Brothel hammer murderer sentenced

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A gambler who admitted murdering two women at a brothel he wanted to rob to help pay off his debts is to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court.

Garry Harding, 22, of Powys, had previously used prostitutes at the massage parlour in Shrewsbury, called Rachael's Health Studio.

He had denied murdering prostitute Samantha Tapper, 23, and receptionist Annie Eels, 55, last July.

But Harding changed his plea to guilty at the start of his trial on Wednesday.

The court was told his gambling debts had preyed on his mind causing him to use the internet to find a solution.

He amassed debts of up to £16,000 and hoped to find about £2,000 at the brothel, but left with about £330.

Police found he had also used the web to look for information on how to commit murder.

Annie Eels (l) and Samantha Tapper were found dead on 2 JulyThe two women were on the premises in Frankwell on 1 July 2006 when Harding arrived.

Their bodies were found in the early hours of the next day by a group of men on a night out.

Mrs Eels, of Llansantffraid, Powys, suffered at least 16 blows to the head and face and Miss Tapper, from Wolverhampton, West Midlands, was said by the prosecution to have suffered 14 blows.

Several weeks later police released CCTV images of a suspect.

These showed Harding, who was unemployed, walking to and from the massage parlour on the day of the murder wearing gloves, despite bright, sunny weather.

He was arrested the following day.