
Moment killer thief returns to steal pal's TV & wear his clothes hours after brutal knife murder at seaside hotel
Adam Saunders returned to the scene of the crime, outrageously wearing a yellow gilet he stole from the hotel owner he killed.
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The 51-year-old was caught on camera returning to the Garfield Hotel in Lancashire to plunder Kevin Price's possessions as he lay dead.
On October 31, the kind-hearted hotel owner had cooked a meal for Saunders but the criminal repaid him by stealing his bag and bank card.
He then messaged Kevin on November 7, asking if he wanted company.
The callous thug then launched into a frenzied knife attack - stabbing him 56 times in his neck, heart, lungs and torso.
As Kevin lay murdered in his bedroom, Saunders returned to raid his home.
While wearing his victim's clothes, Saunders stole his TV, used his bank card to buy mobile phones and to withdraw cash.
Kevin was discovered by police after his concerned friends reported him missing after becoming worried.
Saunders was arrested on suspicion of murder the following week and was subsequently charged.
He pleaded guilty to the theft and fraud offences, and, after an eight-day trial, was unanimously found guilty of Kevin's murder and the burglary.
He was sentenced to life in prison, where he will have to serve a minimum of 32 years before he can apply for parole.
Kevin's sister Diane said: 'Kevin was the most thoughtful, kind, warm and loving person anybody could wish to meet. I loved him so dearly and still do.
"I hold him in my heart, and I always will. He was always in my thoughts when he was alive as he is in death.
'Kevin used to ask me to place flowers on our mum and dad's grave for him, which I did every time, however I now have to do it for us both and not separately. This breaks my heart.'
Speaking of the trial, she said: 'Having to sit and listen to that man give evidence is hard to describe. It sickened me hearing all his lies, knowing full well what disgusting and inhumane things he did to our Kevin.
'He took Kevin's life and then treated his property like his own. If he'd have respected Kevin like a father as he said in court this would never have happened, and he wouldn't have put all of us through the trial like he has.
"I now feel so relieved that we have finally got justice for our Kevin.
'I am truly devastated by what's happened, and I will always love my brother dearly. He will never be forgotten by all those that loved him. RIP Kevin.'
DCI Simon Pritchard, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: 'My thoughts today are with Kevin's family and friends.
"Hopefully, they can now get some form of closure knowing the man responsible for Kevin's horrific and inhumane death is now starting a considerable sentence.
'Saunders made them sit through a trial, hearing about Kevin's final moments, and how he stole his life.
'Saunders invited himself round to Kevin's home, where he frenziedly attacked him, in the place that Kevin was entitled to feel the safest.
"He abused the friendship that Kevin gave him. After taking Kevin's life, he then took his belongings – stealing his money, clothes and other items all while Kevin lay lifeless in the home.
'No sentence will bring Kevin back to the people who loved him. They will go through the rest of their lives without him, because of Saunders' brutality, however Saunders will now have a significant amount of time in custody to reflect on his actions that stole Kevin from his family.'
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