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Mary Roberts murder trial: Andrew Ratcliffe jailed for life Mary Roberts murder trial: Andrew Ratcliffe jailed for life
(35 minutes later)
A "sexually obsessed" man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for murdering a woman at a Bury St Edmunds pub.A "sexually obsessed" man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for murdering a woman at a Bury St Edmunds pub.
Mary Roberts, 50, was sexually assaulted and strangled at the back of the St Edmunds Tavern in March.Mary Roberts, 50, was sexually assaulted and strangled at the back of the St Edmunds Tavern in March.
Andrew Ratcliffe, 56, who lived in Petch Close in the town, was convicted of murder at Ipswich Crown Court.Andrew Ratcliffe, 56, who lived in Petch Close in the town, was convicted of murder at Ipswich Crown Court.
A week-long trial heard he was arrested with Ms Roberts' underwear in his pocket.A week-long trial heard he was arrested with Ms Roberts' underwear in his pocket.
Ms Roberts, formerly of Long Melford, had been living in the same Petch Close flat as Ratcliffe for two weeks. The jury heard Ms Roberts had been living in the same flat at Ratcliffe for two weeks and that that he had developed a sexual obsession with her, but his advances were not reciprocated.
The pair had been out drinking in Bury St Edmunds on 26 March. Ratcliffe had been out drinking with his victim on Tuesday, 26 March, and they left the pub at about 23:45 GMT.
CCTV images captured them leaving the back of the St Edmunds Tavern on Risbygate Street just before midnight. 'Sexual misconduct'
Ratcliffe was filmed at the front of the pub at 03:30 before walking through its backyard and on to the bus station car park. Her body was found in the pub's covered smoking area the following morning with Ratcliffe's DNA on her.
Ms Roberts's body was found in the Tavern's covered outdoor smoking area later that morning by the landlady. Ratcliffe told the court they had been at the back of the pub, but that he had fallen asleep on the ground and not noticed the dead body when he woke up.
The prosecution argued that Ratcliffe had been "sexually obsessed" with her, but she had rejected his advances. He later phoned an ambulance claiming to have been attacked.
Passing sentence, Judge John Devaux said: "There was not a word of truth in your story.
"You were hoping to distance yourself from the death of Mary Roberts and provide yourself with an alibi.
"The evidence as a whole is of sexual misconduct. You killed this lady because she rejected your sexual advances."
Punam Malhan, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "This evidence showed just how hollow was Ratcliffe's explanation of 'falling asleep on the ground' and not knowing what had happened to Mrs Roberts.
"The evidence of what happened in this case must have been very upsetting for the family and friends of Mrs Roberts, but we hope they can take some comfort from the fact Ratcliffe is now starting a lengthy prison sentence."