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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Builder refuses to pay £500 fly-tipping penalty
A builder has accused a private enforcement firm of bullying him to pay £500 after he left building materials on a grass Brown was working on a house in Bye Pass Road in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, where he was issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for a specialist solicitor has told the BBC that the FPN was incorrectly issued, as the building materials had not been discarded and were therefore not was issued by Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE) - a firm that works with more than 40 local authorities across England, including in Broxtowe where Mr Brown was working. WISE has not responded to a request for comment. WISE says it issues people with FPNs for offences such as littering, dog fouling and fly-posting, and it claims to have "an impressive 79% payment rate".Mr Brown said the FPN was "utterly ridiculous" and he would rather be taken to court than pay it."It's just bullying tactics," said Mr Brown. "It was as though he was waiting to pounce... he just didn't seem to have any feelings."It was really upsetting. My wife was really upset - we can't afford to pay this."Mr Brown said other people shared similar experiences when his wife posted about it on Facebook."I think these companies are out to make a quick buck and upset people," he said. Why was the FPN issued? Mr Brown was issued with the FPN on Tuesday 24 said he left two bags of sand on a grass verge just outside the boundary of the property he was working on, because the driveway was full with two cars and a Brown said he was working inside the property when an officer knocked on the window and asked him to go outside."I went out and he wanted my name and address," said Mr Brown."I was a bit reluctant to give it him but he said 'you could be in a lot of trouble'."Although the officer was working for WISE, Mr Brown said he was wearing a top that said "Broxtowe Borough Council".Mr Brown said the officer pointed to the two bags of sand and accused him of fly-tipping."I said to him, 'OK mate, I'm sorry if there's been a misunderstanding, I'll remove it now'," said Mr Brown. "But he said 'no it's too late'."The officer then issued a printed FPN asking him to pay £500 as an "alternative to prosecution". Is the £500 penalty enforceable? The FPN was issued under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act claims Mr Brown committed an offence of Michael Orlik, an independent solicitor who specialises in highways, told the BBC that the FPN had been issued incorrectly."It has been issued because the builder is alleged to have deposited waste unlawfully, contrary to the Environmental Protection Act, but under section 75, waste means any substance or object which the holder discards," said Mr Orlik."Clearly the builder has not discarded these bags, so it's not waste."Mr Orlik said Mr Brown should appeal against the FPN."They should cancel it having found out their mistake," said Mr Mr Brown does not pay, he could be prosecuted and taken to court, where his case would be heard before a district judge, or two or three lay magistrates."That's where he would say 'I'm not going to pay it, I'm not liable to pay it, you've got to prove beyond reasonable doubt that this is an offence, and that I discarded it, but I haven't discarded it, I'm using it'," said Mr Orlik."No solicitor can ever forecast a judge, but I think it's most unlikely there would be a conviction, and the charge would be dismissed."Mr Orlik said leaving building materials on a grass verge could be an offence under the Highways Act 1980, but only the highway authority could enforce would be Nottinghamshire County Council, rather than Broxtowe Borough Council."A highway inspector could arrive on the site under section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 and say to the builder, 'please remove this, it's a nuisance'," said Mr Orlik."It's hardly a nuisance, because the photograph shows that there's a carriageway, a footway, and a verge, and people are unlikely to walk on the verge so it's not a nuisance." What has the council said? Broxtowe Borough Council has been using WISE officers to enforce fly-tipping and littering laws since April, as part of a 12-month trial a statement, the council said: "The council uses a third party contractor, WISE, for enforcement on fly-tipping and littering in the borough and are therefore unable to comment on individual cases."However, residents are able to appeal a fixed penalty notice by contacting broxtowe@ or call 0333 577 2949."The BBC asked the council for details about its financial arrangement with WISE, including how money from the FPNs is split, but the council has not responded to a press release issued in May, the council said income from FPNs "can only be allocated towards measures that mitigate fly-tipping incidents or support actions that will help to prevent further issues".Broxtowe borough councillor Tyler Marsh, ward councillor for where the FPN was issued, said he had spoken to Mr Brown and would monitor what happened."I have spoken with Frank and the relevant council officer and will be monitoring the progress of the appeal, as well as scrutinising the contract and current operations of WISE in Broxtowe," he said."WISE's contract with the council is currently in its trial period. As councillors, we will factor reports like this into our review process and determine whether this approach is working for residents."
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
Local policing teams in Wiltshire carry out week long crackdown
Neighbourhood Policing Teams, (NPTs), have carried out a week long crackdown to highlight the importance of their role in the Policing Week happened across the UK, (23-29 June), with every force organising their own week of this week police officers in neighbourhood teams were protected from additional tasks so they could focus solely on their neighbourhood Constable Catherine Roper, who re-introduced NPTs to Wiltshire Police in January 2024, said communities give nothing but "positive feedback" about the work of the 10 teams across the county. The results for Neighbourhood Policing Week 2025 for Wiltshire Police included:35 visits to vulnerable people22 patrols in priority locations17 local schools visited to teach children about the role of the police and raise awareness of crime prevention methods6 people arrested5 speed enforcement checks completed2 warrants executed Ms Roper said the week included: "Proactive enforcement across Swindon and Wiltshire including warrants, high visibility patrols and a wide range of activities."Sgt Gemma Rutter from the Trowbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team said the week allows the team to get into communities and tell them "what we're all about".Communities are sometimes confused between response and NPTs said Sgt Rutter. "We (NPT officers) don't just do the 999 jobs we are very much focussed on the long-term problem solving, intelligence-led response to community issues," she said. Collaborative working between different police teams was evident during a visit made to a premises in Trowbridge suspected of modern slavery, one of the planned events during Neighbourhood Policing officers were deployed on the visit which was led by Sgt officers from the NPT were two intelligence officers and Det Sgt Jen Jeffcoat-Marsh who is part of the violence against women and girls and adult sexual exploitation Sgt Jeffcoat-Marsh said: "There's no way that what we're trying to achieve would be successful if we weren't all working together."No arrests were made during the visit but the teams will return to carry out welfare checks. NPTs are the "bedrock of an effective police service" according to Ch Supt Doug Downing, the head of local Supt Downing said: "We encourage the public to actively engage with officers and, where they exist, share your concerns."
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Motorcyclist killed in Colwall crash 'lit up any room'
A woman who died in a crash in Herefordshire was a "cherished family member and loyal friend"," her family said. Emma James, 53, died in a three-vehicle crash on the A449 near Colwall on Thursday. Her family added: "Her warmth, kindness and vibrant spirit touched the lives of everyone who knew her. "Emma had a heart full of compassion and a smile that could light up any room. Her loss leaves a void that can never truly be filled. "As a family, we are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. We thank everyone for their love, prayers, and support." A 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving over the crash and police said he had since been released on the time of the crash, Ms James was on a black Kawasaki motorbike heading towards Ledbury. The two other vehicles involved, heading in the direction of Malvern, were a silver VW Golf and a black Skoda - neither driver was injured in the crash. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
