Latest news with #AnnetteSmith
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Disturbing' police video of murder confession leaves viewers horrified
Chilling police footage of the moment a man calmly admits to murdering his 74-year-old live-in landlady has caused widespread horror after the case became the subject of a new TV doco. Scott Paterson had lived as a tenant in Annette Smith's home in the UK town of Fairfield, Bedfordshire for more than a decade before he brutally took her life on the night of November 8, 2023. The 45-year-old said he 'snapped' after he became tired of caring for her while she recovered from a stroke. After suffocating the elderly woman as she slept and taking great lengths to cover up his crime, Paterson dismembered her body before hiding parts of her remains at a storage unit and distributing the rest among public bins in the city. Now the 'shocking' confession he gave police after his elaborate cover-up was exposed has been televised in a new episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody called 'The Butcher Of Suburbia'. The popular British show, which has been running since 2014 and is aired on 7+ in Australia, highlights the challenges faced by police officers at Luton Police Station, a cop shop about 55km outside of Central London. While episodes over the years have covered all sorts of crimes and investigations, its most recent is particularly grisly, prompting an almost visceral reaction from viewers on social media. In the footage, filmed inside an interrogation room at the station, Paterson recounts the gruesome details of his crime in such a calm fashion it leaves the police visibly dumbstruck and sent shivers down viewers' spines. After telling police he killed his elderly roommate – who friends described as a generous soul that took Paterson in out of the goodness of her heart – officers quizzed him on where her body was. 'Where's Annette,' a female officer asked, to which he coldly replies, 'there isn't a full body'. 'I did keep her in the house for quite some time, but as time went by, I realised she couldn't stay in the house. 'I wasn't sure what to do, so I did dismember her.' Initially he hid her remains under the stairs, before moving them to a storage unit about 5kms from their home. Paterson, who is wearing a blue chequered shirt and a black baseball cap during the interview, then proceeds to explain in precise detail how he went about the horrific task – with much of the admission too shocking to publish. 'It was a gradual process, I couldn't face doing something like that in one go,' the murderer explained, before stating he first chopped up Ms Smith's feet with a saw and a knife. 'I work in a butchers, so I see how they deal with things like that, but I obviously watch quite a lot of horror films and stuff so it has probably stemmed from there as well.' Paterson, who was employed at a local farm shop at the time of the murder, had also done a butchery course, according to the BBC. It took him 'a few weeks' to completely dismember her body, placing Ms Smith into an array of plastic bags, admitting he was physically sick during the lengthy process. After, he 'discarded' the 10 different pieces of Ms Smith's body 'gradually' in bins around the city – including several outside supermarkets. In order to cover his tracks, Paterson hacked into his landlady's email account and sent Christmas cards and emails to her friends and family, pretending she was still alive. The deception lasted for months, but eventually relatives grew suspicious because of 'multiple kisses at the end of the email' that 'did not ring true, and alerted local police. At first, Paterson falsely claimed Ms Smith had left the house voluntarily with an unknown woman, but investigators found her passport, clothing, mobile phone and laptop still at the home, and noted there had been no activity on her bank account. Detectives also found CCTV footage and records proving Paterson also stole the old lady's jewellery and other belongings, which he sold for more than £5000 (about $10,300 Australian Dollars), The Sun reported. After discovering Paterson had debts of over £30,000 ($62,000), police arrested him on April 30, 2024, and he quickly confessed to the murder. During sentencing, Luton Crown Court court heard Ms Smith and Paterson had become friends and she had invited him to lodge in her spare room rent-free, in exchange for company and running errands. They had also gone on holiday together, the BBC reported. After she had a stroke, her mobility was affected and the dynamic of their friendship changed, with Paterson becoming her carer who would collect medicine and wash her. Judge Justice Murray described Paterson's actions as 'awful' and 'callous' during sentencing in November last year. He was given life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years before he is eligible for parole. The gruesome crime recently became the subject of a TV documentary, where Paterson's actions left viewers horrified. 'So scary the people we walk this world alongside,' one commented on social media. 'He's so calm it's disturbing,' remarked another. As one declared: 'OMG. This is horrific. Poor Annette.'
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Murder house where 'Butcher of Suburbia' killed his elderly landlady goes on sale for £550,000
A murder house where an elderly landlady was smothered to death and dismembered by her tenant has gone on sale for £550,000. Scott Paterson killed 74-year-old Annette Smith at their shared home in Fairfield, Bedfordshire in November 2024. The disturbing case featured on an episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody titled The Butcher of Suburbia, showing bodycam footage of officers walking through the house. Now, the property - described by its estate agent as having an 'airy and majestic atmosphere' - has hit market for £550,000 and is being advertised by Fine & Country. The Grade ll listed building features a master bedroom with an en suite bathroom, vaulted ceilings, an open plan kitchen and dining room and a large garden perfect for 'entertaining and al fresco dining'. The description reads: 'A uniquely designed three bedroom apartment. 'This remarkable property seamlessly blends period features with modern comfort. 'The moment you step into the entrance, the expansive space and unique architectural details capture your attention, situated within the ever so popular Fairfield Park. 'The focal point of this property is undoubtedly its vaulted ceilings. 'Towering above, these ceilings create an airy and majestic atmosphere, providing a sense of openness and grandeur. 'The arches and curves of the vaulted design add a touch of elegance, reflecting a bygone era. 'The living spaces are generously proportioned, offering an abundance of room for various purposes. 'The main reception area is a vast expanse, bathed in natural light streaming through large windows. 'The open-plan kitchen/diner connects living, dining and even entertainment areas, fostering a sense of connectivity.' It goes on to say the 'property is being sold with vacant possession following the death of the previous occupier at the house'. Paterson had been living with Ms Smith for several years when she suffered a stoke and he began caring for her. After the then-45-year-old killed Ms Smith in November 2023, he tried to cover his tracks by using a kitchen knife and saw to dismember her body. He then hid her remains in a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Ms Smith's family became suspicious and alerted the police. Paterson confessed to the murder soon after being arrested. The body of Ms Smith was discovered in a suitcase in a storage locker in May last year. Paterson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years, six months later.
The Sun
08-07-2025
- The Sun
Inside ‘house of horrors' where tenant smothered landlady before chopping up body – as it hits market for half a million
A MURDER house where an elderly landlady was brutally murdered by her tenant has hit the market for over half a million. Scott Paterson smothered 74-year-old Annette Smith with a pillow at their shared home. 6 6 6 The disturbing case featured on an episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody titled The Butcher of Suburbia which showed bodycam footage of officers walking through the home. Paterson had been living with Annette for several years when she suffered a stroke and he began caring for her. The 45-year-old then murdered Annette in November 2023, using a pillow to smother her to death. Paterson attempted to cover his tracks by using a kitchen knife and saw to dismember her body. He then hid her remains in a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Annette's family became suspicious and alerted the police and Paterson confessed to the murder soon after being arrested. Annette's body was discovered in a suitcase in a storage locker in May last year. The property in Fairfield, Bedfordshire, is now on the market for £550,000 and is being advertised by Fine & Country. The Grade ll listed building features a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, vaulted ceilings, an open plan kitchen and dining room and a large garden perfect for 'entertaining and al fresco dining'. The description reads: 'A uniquely designed three bedroom apartment. 'This remarkable property seamlessly blends period features with modern comfort. 'The moment you step into the entrance, the expansive space and unique architectural details capture your attention, situated within the ever so popular Fairfield Park. 'This remarkable property seamlessly blends period features with modern comfort. 'The focal point of this property is undoubtedly its vaulted ceilings. 'Towering above, these ceilings create an airy and majestic atmosphere, providing a sense of openness and grandeur. 'The arches and curves of the vaulted design add a touch of elegance, reflecting a bygone era. 'The living spaces are generously proportioned, offering an abundance of room for various purposes. 'The main reception area is a vast expanse, bathed in natural light streaming through large windows. 'The open-plan kitchen/diner connects living, dining and even entertainment areas, fostering a sense of connectivity.' It goes on to say that the 'property is being sold with vacant possession following the death of the previous occupier at the house.' Paterson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years, six months after Annette's body was found. 6 6 6
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews 24 Hours In Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia: Armchair sleuths will have cracked this case before the first ad break...
When I am murdered, as I inevitably shall be if I carry on being rude about every actor on TV, what I don't want is for the crime to be investigated by estate agents. But that's how Bedfordshire police behaved when they arrived at the house of a missing woman, chronicled in the two-part documentary 24 Hours In Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia. 'It looks like an old chapel,' mused one copper, arriving at the dormer bungalow in Fairfield on Sunday's episode, after lodger Scott Paterson reported that he hadn't seen his 74-year-old landlady, Annette Smith, for six weeks. 'Quite big, isn't it?' the officer added, on footage captured by his bodycam. 'There's an upstairs as well,' he marvelled. Channel 4 is agog for anything to do with homes and properties, but the serious crime squad should leave guided tours to Phil and Kirstie. Police forces give film crews access to their investigations because they want the publicity. Solving messy homicides, they reason, will make them look efficient, dedicated, implacable. But shows like this have become commonplace, and viewers are growing adept at deciphering the clues even before the first ad break — which can make detectives appear to trail far behind. It wasn't until three months later, when Paterson, pictured, was picked up for drink-driving, that they began to suspect the lonely lodger wasn't as innocent as he acted Chilly seas of the week Crime reporter Martin (Luke Arnold) went back to the surfers' paradise where he grew up, in Aussie drama Scrublands: Silver (BBC2). Old pals sauntered by holding surfboards, but none of them actually went in the water. Filmed in winter, perhaps? While the bobbies from Beds were taking note of the house's potential for modernisaton, we armchair sleuths had already spotted one glaring contradiction in the lodger's story. Paterson claimed Annette failed to return after packing a suitcase for a trip with a friend. But the house was almost stripped bare. How big was that suitcase? Even her bedclothes were gone. Paterson clearly wasn't expecting the old girl to return. He dabbed away a few tears as he told investigators how mystified he was. He couldn't have been less convincing if he'd pretended she was abducted by aliens. Incredibly, the police sent him away with a promise that he'd let them know if Annette turned up. It wasn't until three months later, when Paterson was picked up for drink-driving, that they began to suspect the lonely lodger wasn't as innocent as he acted. Belatedly, the Beds feds pursued a few old-fashioned lines of inquiry. They discovered that emails purportedly written by Annette had been sent from her home, weeks after she vanished. And her jewellery kept turning up with an online cash-for-gold merchant. It wasn't until a detective constable thought to ask an obvious question that guilt was established beyond doubt. 'Are you responsible for the death of Annette Smith?' she wondered. Paterson paused dramatically for a few seconds, and then agreed that yes, he'd killed her, dismembered her body and distributed her remains in public bins. A keen chief inspector, scenting more confessions, asked: 'Have you ever done anything like this before?' Another extended pause. 'Not that I can think of,' Paterson said. The detectives seemed satisfied with this denial. Move along now, nothing to see here.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The loving friendship that turned to murder: Chilling messages between 'gentle giant' lodger and his elderly landlady before he suffocated her with a pillow and chopped up her body
Chilling messages and phone calls between a lodger and his 74-year-old landlady before he murdered her have been revealed today for the first time. Scott Paterson, 45, suffocated vulnerable Annette Smith with a pillow at their shared home before dismembering her body and hiding her remains in a storage unit. He tried to cover up her murder and pretended she was still alive by using her email account to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends. Paterson, of Fairfield, Bedfordshire, used a kitchen knife and saw to cut up her body in November 2023 - and was jailed for at least 19 years in November last year. Now, Channel 4 's new series of 24 Hours In Police Custody, which airs this Sunday, has revealed their friendly chats - including a text exchange before he moved in. Paterson wrote: 'Hi Annette would Weds next week be ok to move in? x' Ms Smith replied: 'elo luvly Supa... pls start moving on Wed. Whoopee! A xxx' And Paterson said: 'Thanks Annette, can't wait! Xx' The programme, which follows the police investigation, also featured recordings of two calls between the pair - with one featuring her arranging dinner for him. It began with Paterson saying: 'Hello.' Ms Smith then said: 'Hello darling, just to let you know, I've ordered you salmon and pilau rice, so you've got something to eat when you get in.' Paterson replied: 'Brilliant, that's lovely, thank you.' And Ms Smith said: 'I'll see you soon' A text exchange between lodger Scott Paterson (right) and his 74-year-old landlady Annette Smith (left) before he murdered her was revealed in Channel 4's 24 Hours In Police Custody The second call saw Ms Smith organise a drink for Paterson because he was tired. It started with Paterson saying: 'Oh hi darling, it's Scott.' Ms Smith replied: 'Hiya darling, you must be knackered?' Paterson said: 'Yeah.' And Ms Smith told him: 'Would you like me to get you a drink or something?' He replied: 'Yeah that's great, lovely, thank you.' The documentary also reveals Paterson talking about the loving friendship he had with Ms Smith after reporting her missing - despite having already murdered her. Paterson claimed to police that Ms Smith had been missing for several weeks and he last saw her being collected from the house by a woman after packing a suitcase. He also said Ms Smith told her she would be gone for a few days – and the video showed him becoming emotional while telling detectives about their friendship. Paterson said: 'I'd known Annette for maybe nearly 15 years. She offered me somewhere to stay. Initially it was going to be 12 months and it turned into 12 years. 'We'd get on like a house on fire. We'd go to the theatre, we'd go out for dinner, we'd go on holidays. So we always just got on really well.' Pictures of Annette Smith also form part of the new programme airing on Channel 4 on Sunday He then appeared to choke up, with the detective saying: 'We can have a break if you want a break, yeah?' Paterson replied: 'Sorry' – but she said: 'No, no, it's alright.' Attempting to cover up her murder, Paterson tried to pretend Ms Smith was still alive by sending emails and cards to friends and relatives. However, in April 2024, concerns were raised by relatives and an investigation was launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Major Crime Unit. Detectives discovered her passport and clothing were still at the home, with her laptop which had sent the Christmas messages. After being arrested, Paterson was asked whether he was responsible for her murder in a police interview – and simply replied: 'Yes'. He also directed police to a storage unit where he had hidden her remains –and was later sentenced to life imprisonment at Luton Crown Court. The court heard that they had met 14 years earlier and Ms Smith had offered him rent-free accommodation in her home after Paterson experienced a 'relationship breakdown'. In 2018, Ms Smith suffered a stroke which limited her mobility and Paterson took on caring responsibilities, including collecting prescriptions and doing her shopping. In 2023, her estranged husband Peter Smith, who held a 20 per cent stake in the home, had asked her to sell the property because of his struggling business. Ms Smith initially did not want to move out, but Paterson claimed he 'felt pressured' to encourage her to go through with a sale. He also said she had become 'more demanding' since her stroke five years earlier. Eventually Ms Smith agreed to speak to estate agents, who continued to market the property after her death. On November 8, 2023, Paterson entered Ms Smith's bedroom and suffocated her with a pillow. He left her in her bed and drank a bottle of wine before dragging her body into the bathroom and wrapping it in a green blanket. Prosecutors told the court he had continued to talk to her about 'every day things like normal'. He moved the body to a cupboard under the stairs after receiving notice that a photographer from the estate agent would be coming to take pictures of the house. Paterson, who was working on a deli and butcher counter at a farm shop at the time, later dismembered Ms Smith's body with a kitchen knife and saw. He wrapped parts of her body in plastic bags and hid her torso inside a black suitcase, which he took to the storage unit in Letchworth. In an effort to pretend she was still alive, Paterson used his victim's email address to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends. However, in January 2024, Ms Smith's family raised concerns with Bedfordshire Police about her welfare. Officers initially said there was insufficient evidence to deem Ms Smith a missing person, but in April that year launched a high-risk missing person investigation after her family found her passport, mobile phone and other personal belongings in her home. When he was arrested, Paterson made a full admission and directed police to a storage unit where he had hidden her remains. He said he had considered killing Ms Smith at least twice before and had only stopped himself when he reached her bedroom door. He also told officers he had racked up £30,000 in credit card debt and admitted that he had been stealing jewellery from Ms Smith, both while she slept and after her death. He had been selling the jewellery on Cash4Gold, the court heard. Ms Smith's stepson, Jason Smith, described his stepmother as a 'very kind and caring person' who was 'always there for me throughout the years'. Paterson, wearing a blue polo shirt and grey trousers, bowed his head and kept his eyes closed as Mr Smith spoke in court. He told the courtroom he had initially believed the defendant, described by other witnesses as a 'gentle giant', was a 'nice guy', but that in reality he was an 'evil man'. He added: 'I will never forgive (him) for what he did, I hate him from the bottom of my heart.' A tribute from Ms Smith's family read: 'We are totally heartbroken and devastated that Annette has been taken away from us in such a cruel and senseless way. 'She was a beautiful, caring, trusting and generous lady, who meant so much to so many people. Annette, rest in peace with those who will love and take care of you.' Buckinghamshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias, who led the investigation, said of the documentary: 'This two-part episode captures the meticulous work of our detectives as we pieced together CCTV footage, forensic evidence, digital footprints and witness statements to uncover the truth about what happened to Annette. 'In the show, our care for Annette as a victim is evident, and the team really do stop at nothing to ensure that we seek answers on behalf of her and her family. 'This was a case which shook the community of Stotfold and Bedfordshire more widely. 'It also highlights some of the most complex aspects of modern-day policing and showcases the professionalism of our officers in the face of the most horrific of crimes.' Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst added: 'As always, 24 Hours in Police Custody offers an unfiltered look at the police service, highlighting the dedication, compassion, and resilience of officers who are often working under intense pressure, on some of the most traumatic incidents most people could ever imagine.' 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia starts this Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4, and concludes the following evening, Monday, at 9pm on Channel 4
