This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36858207
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Dating site murderer Miles Donnelly jailed for life | Dating site murderer Miles Donnelly jailed for life |
(35 minutes later) | |
A man who murdered a single mother he met on a dating website has been jailed for life. | A man who murdered a single mother he met on a dating website has been jailed for life. |
Miles Donnelly admitted strangling Usha Patel, 44, at the home she shared with her five-year-old son in Cricklewood, north-west London, in October 2015. | Miles Donnelly admitted strangling Usha Patel, 44, at the home she shared with her five-year-old son in Cricklewood, north-west London, in October 2015. |
The 35-year-old, from Paddington, then fled to a west London house where he attacked another woman when she refused his advances. | The 35-year-old, from Paddington, then fled to a west London house where he attacked another woman when she refused his advances. |
At the Old Bailey he was told he would serve a minimum of 23 years. | At the Old Bailey he was told he would serve a minimum of 23 years. |
The court heard he and Ms Patel had met on the dating site seven months before she invited him back to her home on 7 October. | The court heard he and Ms Patel had met on the dating site seven months before she invited him back to her home on 7 October. |
After putting her son to bed, the pair stripped naked and Donnelly attacked her in a "drunken rage". | After putting her son to bed, the pair stripped naked and Donnelly attacked her in a "drunken rage". |
Ms Patel was found on the sofa the following morning by her father who was due to to take her son to school. | Ms Patel was found on the sofa the following morning by her father who was due to to take her son to school. |
When he arrived at the flat, the little boy told his grandfather: "Mummy's not well". | When he arrived at the flat, the little boy told his grandfather: "Mummy's not well". |
The single mother had been stabbed 13 times with a large bread knife, punched in the head several times, and strangled. | The single mother had been stabbed 13 times with a large bread knife, punched in the head several times, and strangled. |
The prosecution said the five-year-old still has nightmares and keeps asking his family when his mother will return. | The prosecution said the five-year-old still has nightmares and keeps asking his family when his mother will return. |
The Old Bailey heard that after the killing, Donnelly hid from police at the home of Rosie Ferrigno, 43, abandoning his underpants, socks, T-shirt, hoodie and keys in Ms Patel's flat. | |
He spent 36 hours in the property and while there, told Ms Ferrigno he was sexually frustrated and made advances towards her. | |
'Ferocious' attack | 'Ferocious' attack |
When she refused, he hit her on the back of the head with a stool that had a nail sticking out of it. | When she refused, he hit her on the back of the head with a stool that had a nail sticking out of it. |
On 11 October, Donnelly telephoned the police and told them where he was, ending a manhunt for him. | On 11 October, Donnelly telephoned the police and told them where he was, ending a manhunt for him. |
Prosecutor Simon Denison QC told the court the pair had swapped texts saying "I love you" on the day of the murder. | Prosecutor Simon Denison QC told the court the pair had swapped texts saying "I love you" on the day of the murder. |
But he said Donnelly would have known he was a "significant and serious danger to women" who was "driven by compulsions to drink, take cocaine and have sex". | But he said Donnelly would have known he was a "significant and serious danger to women" who was "driven by compulsions to drink, take cocaine and have sex". |
During sentencing, Judge Rebecca Poulet QC said Donnelly had murdered Ms Patel in "a particularly ferocious and violent attack". | During sentencing, Judge Rebecca Poulet QC said Donnelly had murdered Ms Patel in "a particularly ferocious and violent attack". |
She said the case was "a stark warning to anyone who plans to meet anyone after limited internet contact" and warned people not to invite a stranger into their home. | |
The judge called Ms Patel "an extremely vulnerable woman" who was "clearly anxious to meet a new partner". | |
"She paid for this invitation with her life," she said | "She paid for this invitation with her life," she said |
Donnelly was also given an 18-month sentence for the assault on Ms Ferrigno to run concurrently with the life term. | Donnelly was also given an 18-month sentence for the assault on Ms Ferrigno to run concurrently with the life term. |