A man who strangled his mother to death at their east London home after stealing from her to buy drugs has been jailed for life.<\/p>\n
Richard Clayton, 45, admitted murdering Angela Clayton, 74, in the early hours of 17 February at the house they shared in Newham.<\/p>\n
Sentencing him at the Old Bailey on Monday, Judge Nigel Lickley KC called Clayton “despicable”, “callous” and “self-centred” and told him he must serve at least 22 years before he can be considered for release.<\/p>\n
The court heard Clayton had taken money and belongings from his mother to pay for cannabis and cocaine, both before and after he killed her.<\/p>\n
In January, while she was in hospital, he pawned a gold pendant and chains, and after the killing he withdrew \u00a3200 in cash from her bank account.<\/p>\n
Later that afternoon Clayton, who was unemployed, rang 999 and said he had done “something stupid” and had strangled his mother after a “breakdown”.<\/p>\n
Police and paramedics found Angela Clayton in her bedroom, where she was pronounced dead. Her son was taken into custody and charged with murder the following day.<\/p>\n
Judge Lickley said she had been vulnerable because of underlying health conditions and that Clayton had been stealing from her for some time.<\/p>\n
“Angela supported you and forgave you despite your behaviour towards her,” he told him.<\/p>\n
The judge said she had been entitled to feel safe in her own home, and that Clayton had been under the influence of drugs when he attacked her. <\/p>\n
Given her size and weight, she would not have been able to defend herself “to any meaningful degree”, he added.<\/p>\n
“Strangling is a particularly brutal way to kill someone given the proximity and time it takes,” he said. <\/p>\n
“Angela would have realised at some point she was dying and it was her son who was killing her.”<\/p>\n
Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Angela Clayton moved to the UK in her 20s, married twice and had three children. She was described in court as a “fiercely devoted” mother and grandmother who was loving, selfless and kind.<\/p>\n
Members of her family appeared tearful as Clayton was taken down from the dock.<\/p>\n
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