Man jailed after killing OAP landlandy and sending cards to family pretending she was still alive

Scott Paterson rented a room in Annette Smith's home in Stotfold, Bedfordshire. He killed her before hiding her remains in a storage container. He then logged on to her computer and sent Merry Christmas messages to her friends

A man who killed and dismembered his 74-year-old landlady before sending Christmas cards to her family in a desperate bid to cover his tracks has been jailed for 20 years.

Scott Paterson rented a room in Annette Smith's home in Stotfold, Bedfordshire, Luton Crown Court was told. He suffocated her with a pillow in November, later hiding her remains in a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. The 45 year old then logged into her computer and sent Christmas messages to her friends and family, and even sent some Moonpig cards, pretending she was alive and well.

Relatives raised concerns in April with Bedfordshire Police appealing for information on her whereabouts the same month. Paterson told to police that she had left their home with an unknown woman in an attempt to cover his tracks. Just five days later detectives upgraded the investigation to a murder inquiry, confirming Annette had not been seen since November. Today, Paterson was given a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

The court heard that they had met 14 years earlier and Ms Smith had offered him rent-free accommodation in her home after Paterson experienced a “relationship breakdown”.

The court was told he and Ms Smith had a close relationship, went on holiday together and hosted dinner parties. In 2018, Ms Smith had a stroke which limited her mobility and Paterson took on caring responsibilities, including collecting prescriptions and doing her shopping.

In 2023, her estranged husband Peter Smith, who held a 20% stake in the home, had asked her to sell the property because of his struggling business. Ms Smith initially did not want to move out, but Paterson claimed he “felt pressured” to encourage her to go through with a sale.

He also said she had become “more demanding” since her stroke five years earlier. Eventually Ms Smith agreed to speak to estate agents, who continued to market the property after her death.

On November 8, 2023, Paterson entered Ms Smith’s bedroom and suffocated her with a pillow. He left her in her bed and drank a bottle of wine before dragging her body into the bathroom and wrapping it in a green blanket.

Prosecutors told the court he had continued to talk to her about “every day things like normal”. He moved the body to a cupboard under the stairs after receiving notice that a photographer from the estate agent would be coming to take pictures of the house.

Paterson, who was working on a deli and butcher counter at a farm shop at the time, later dismembered Ms Smith’s body with a kitchen knife and saw. He wrapped parts of her body in plastic bags and hid her torso inside a black suitcase, which he took to the storage unit in Letchworth.

In an effort to pretend she was still alive, Paterson used his victim’s email address to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends.

However, in January 2021 Ms Smith’s family raised concerns with Bedfordshire Police about her welfare.

Police discovered her passport and clothing were still at the home along with her laptop which had sent the Christmas messages. Paterson was arrested, telling police he was guilty and he even directed officers to a storage unit where he had hidden her remains.

He said he had considered killing Ms Smith at least twice before and had only stopped himself when he reached her bedroom door.

He also told officers he had racked up £30,000 in credit card debt and admitted that he had been stealing jewellery from Ms Smith, both while she slept and after her death. He had been selling the jewellery on Cash4Gold, the court heard.

Ms Smith’s stepson, Jason Smith, described his stepmother as a “very kind and caring person” who was “always there for me throughout the years”.

Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias who led the investigation said: “Annette’s death is tragic, and deeply saddening. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones. Paterson’s actions to conceal his horrific crime and later mislead Annette’s family and friends with a false sense of assurance, reveals the nature of a very cold and calculated individual who has no place in our community.

“Uncovering Annette’s death has required the finest level of police work, and I would like to commend the Major Crime Unit and supporting teams on their meticulous efforts over the last five months. Our hope is that this swift progression towards justice, provides some level of comfort to those affected by Annette’s death.”