Son jailed for strangling mum to fuel drug habit

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.

Richard Clayton, 45, admitted murdering Angela Clayton, 74, in the early hours of 17 February at the house they shared in Newham.

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.

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.

In January, while she was in hospital, he pawned a gold pendant and chains, and after the killing he withdrew £200 in cash from her bank account.

Later that afternoon Clayton, who was unemployed, rang 999 and said he had done "something stupid" and had strangled his mother after a "breakdown".

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.

Judge Lickley said she had been vulnerable because of underlying health conditions and that Clayton had been stealing from her for some time.

"Angela supported you and forgave you despite your behaviour towards her," he told him.

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.

Given her size and weight, she would not have been able to defend herself "to any meaningful degree", he added.

"Strangling is a particularly brutal way to kill someone given the proximity and time it takes," he said.

"Angela would have realised at some point she was dying and it was her son who was killing her."

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.

Members of her family appeared tearful as Clayton was taken down from the dock.

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