Nottingham: Woman who murdered 74-year-old housemate jailed

Barry Spooner's body was found by police nearly two weeks after his death

A woman has been jailed for a minimum term of 22 years after admitting murdering her 74-year-old housemate.

Barry Spooner sustained 25 stab wounds to his neck when he was attacked at his Nottingham home by Sarah Hansford in May.

Nottingham Crown Court heard the 44-year-old then threw him in the cellar, where he was found nearly two weeks later by police.

She pleaded guilty to murder and was given a life sentence.

The court heard Hansford, of Coalville, Leicestershire, had 24 previous court appearances for 46 offences, which included assaults on her own grandfather.

She had been taking money from Mr Spooner, who had served in the Army, to fund her drug habit.

Mary Prior KC, prosecuting, said Hansford told police in June that after the murder there was "blood everywhere" and she had a shower and "threw him down the cellar".

Judge Nirmal Shant told the court Hansford "emerged from the premises having killed him, dancing in the street".

After his death she cleaned the flat and was seen making several trips to and from the bins.

Hansford also dressed up as a man to withdraw £300 from his bank account. She attempted to withdraw £300 a second time but failed.

Mr Spooner's nephew said he died the most "lonely and undignified" death

Mr Spooner's body was found on 7 June by officers underneath "cardboard" and "clutter" at the flat in Gladstone Street, Forest Fields, after concerns were raised about him.

The court heard how one of the stab wounds to the neck hit the carotid artery and caused his death.

He was also stabbed in the chest, right shoulder, upper arm, and suffered three fractured ribs.

Mr Spooner, who previously worked for British Telecom, was "scared" of Hansford, the court was told.

Addressing Hansford, the judge said after she had been living with him for two years, the "relationship reached a stage where you took his life savings and you did it through violence, menace and whatever it took".

She added neighbours noticed marks and bruises on him, saw he had lost a lot of weight and spoke of him falling behind with payments for his flat.

The judge said: "Such was your control over him, even in prison he sent you money."

She added: "He told police he felt frightened every day of his life.

"He said you had punched him regularly and was scared of your wrath if he accepted the police's offer to remove you."

'Vile, evil person'

The judge said: "It is hard to properly grasp what the circumstances were when he met his death, you have given varying accounts."

The judge said in one of her accounts, Hansford claimed there was a struggle in many areas of the house.

"You said you tried to drown him and wrapped your arms around his neck in an attempt to strangle him and a struggle took place in the shower," she said.

"That account alone gives an idea of the violence that occurred."

In a victim impact statement, Mr Spooner's sister said: "I grieve for Barry for the difficulties he experienced towards the end of his life, his horrendous death and the future he never had."

His nephew said: "He was a kind gentleman. He spent the final moments of his life with a vile, evil person. She took his life, took his life savings and dehumanised him."

Hansford had also pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of bladed article, and two counts of fraud.

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