A man who strangled his mother to death and stole from her to fund his drug habit has been jailed for life. Richard Clayton, 45, will serve at least 22 years in prison after admitting the murder of Angela Clayton, 74, in the early hours of February 17.
The Old Bailey heard that Clayton had stolen from his mother to buy cannabis and cocaine before and after her death at their home in Newham, east London. In January, he pawned a gold pendant and chains while his mother was in hospital, and he also withdrew £200 in cash from her bank account after killing her.
Callous and self-centred behaviour
Unemployed Clayton had also repeatedly called a phone sex line as his mother lay dead in the house nearby, the court was told. Later that afternoon, he called 999 and said he had done 'something stupid' and strangled his mother after having a 'breakdown'.
Police and paramedics arrived and found Mrs Clayton in her bedroom, where she was pronounced dead at the scene. Clayton was taken into custody and charged with murder the following day.
Judge's sentencing remarks
On Monday, Judge Nigel Lickley KC described Clayton as 'callous' and 'self-centred'. The judge said: 'You murdered your mother in her own home during the early hours of February 17. Your mother was vulnerable because of underlying health conditions, and you had been stealing from her for some time. Angela supported you and forgave you despite your behaviour towards her.'
Mrs Clayton was described as a 'devoted' mother and grandmother who was loving, selfless and kind. Judge Lickley said she was entitled to feel safe in her own home when she was attacked by her son, who was under the influence of drugs at the time.
He added: 'Given her size and weight, she would have been unable to defend herself to any meaningful degree. Strangling is a particularly brutal way to kill someone given the proximity and time it takes. Angela would have realised at some point she was dying, and it was her son who was killing her.'
Family impact
Mrs Clayton was born in Trinidad and Tobago and travelled in her 20s to the UK, where she was twice married and had three children. Members of her family appeared tearful in Court One of the Old Bailey as Clayton was sent down from the dock.
