A man who was found guilty of murdering a pensioner and dragging her into the street by her ankles after she mistook his home for her hotel has been jailed for life.
Haunting CCTV footage showed the moment 71-year-old Margaret Barnes walked up to the entrance of the home of David Redfern, 46, with a suitcase in tow last July.
A court heard how Barnes had believed the five-bedroom seaside home on Marine Parade, Barmouth, was her hotel, which was situated only a few houses down the road.
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Bank IT worker Redfern, was said to be enraged when he found seven-and-a-half stone Mrs Barnes sitting in his bed drinking gin, her suitcase open, clothes strewn around with her false teeth on a side table, reports The Mirror.
Caernarfon Crown Court heard how Redfern, who is six feet one inch tall and weighed 21 stone, dragged her outside by her ankles whilst calling her a "scumbag" and a "thieving c***". He then deliberately and forcefully kicked or stamped on her, leaving her with 'catastrophic' injuries.
A neighbour said she heard the defendant shouting inside his home and "sounded like a raving lunatic". Redfern refused to call an ambulance as Mrs Barnes lay dying and suffering from injuries akin to a high-speed car crash.
Redfern denied both murder and manslaughter but a jury took 14 hours and 30 minutes to convict him of murder. Today judge Mr Justice Bourne sentenced him to life, with a minimum of 14 years.
The judge said: "You were astonished to find her in their bed, your first reaction was entirely appropriate but after that things went terribly wrong.
"You dragged her by the ankles downstairs and flung her wheeled-suitcase after her, your partner acted gently and carefully with this lady who was unsteady on her feet.
"Your partner behaved appropriately and compassionate care was given by her and by neighbours.
"You refused to call an ambulance. You did bring her water and asked to take her pulse."
During today's sentencing, Mrs Barnes' granddaughter Robyn Barnes said she is 'completely heartbroken' and added her grandmother is still left an empty seat at the table. Her family said they now have some form of closure after the shocking death.
They said: "Margaret, who was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother has now been gone for eight months.
"As a family it has been the hardest time of our lives. It has been especially difficult for Margaret's husband who had been her partner for 56 years.
"As a family we would like to thank the police for their hard work in putting the case together."
In his closing speech during the trial, prosecutor Michael Jones KC added Mrs Barnes died because of the "violent and cruel" actions of Redfern.
She had the misfortune of entering the wrong building and encountering a 6ft 1 man with anger issues after being found in bed, the barrister remarked.
Mrs Barnes had been visiting friends in Barmouth last year and travelled more than 100 miles from Birmingham to the seaside Welsh resort for a £95-a-night stay.
Before attempting to find her bed and breakfast, Mrs Barnes had purchased a bottle of gin while on a seaside stroll in the evening. She went into the wrong home and went straight to bed, before pouring herself a nightcap.
Mr Jones said: "It was a mistake that ultimately cost her her life. The reason Mrs Barnes died is she had the misfortune of coming across a man who was an angry bully."
Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers found she had suffered blunt force trauma. A post-mortem said there was a traumatic injury to her liver and extensive internal bleeding.
Detective Superintendent Mark Pierce, of North Wales Police, said: “We welcome today’s life sentence for David Redfern for the brutal murder of Margaret Barnes.
"During a two-week trial Redfern showed no remorse, attempted to blame Margaret for his actions and subjected her family to the trauma of a two-week trial where details of the event were explored in graphic detail. How a 21 stone, 6’1’’ man could have inflicted such catastrophic injuries on a frail, 71-year-old lady, 25 years his senior, is beyond the comprehension of any reasonable person.
"David Redfern is a cowardly, vicious bully and will now spend at least 14 years behind bars where he can reflect on what he has done.
"In stark contrast, Margaret’s family have displayed tremendous courage and dignity throughout the investigation and during the court proceedings. They can now start to re-build their lives as they begin to move forward.”
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