Latest news with #24HoursInPoliceCustody
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 Mirror
06-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Vile serial rapist filmed himself abusing unconscious women at 'after-parties'
24 Hours In Police Custody followed the case of Craig France, 34, who would pursue women late at night before luring them to 'after-parties' at his home, where he would commit vile sexual offences against them Serial rapist Craig France deliberately preyed on women late at night, enticing them to "after-parties" at his house before filming himself abusing the women who were unconscious. The chilling and disturbing details of France's case will be featured in a two-part episode of Channel 4's 24 Hours In Police Custody on Sunday and Monday, titled The Nightclub Predator. The Peterborough rapist, now 34, was jailed for 10 years and seven months in March this year after admitting rape and filming victims without their knowledge. France would lure women to his residence and, once there, would give his victims more drink before perpetrating horrendous sexual offences against them, reports the Express. He recorded himself assaulting his victims while they were incapacitated or asleep, with former concerns raised that he might have used drugs on them. It was reported that he used hidden cameras and amassed thousands of vile photographs and videos of these disturbing offences. France's sinister behaviour was uncovered in August last year when a woman reported he had raped her two years earlier, and she had become aware that he had videotaped the incident. The survivor described being given a shot of "Sambuca" by France in his garden, after which her memory lapsed until awakening in his bed, instinctively feeling that something was amiss. In a painstaking task, officers sifted through over 6,000 disturbing images and videos depicting several anonymous women who were stealthily recorded at France's home from March 2022 to September 2023. During his trial, it brought to light the shocking video evidence of the victim being raped by France, where she appeared entirely "lifeless". The deeply disturbing footage exhibited France lifting the debilitated victim, who couldn't stand up, before letting her drop into a hot tub, and afterwards, he dragged her across concrete flooring. Three other victims were discovered through the videos and images. Their dismay upon realising they had been covertly recorded was palpable, with one expressing that France had "taken her dignity" and another voiced her feeling "disgusted". In one instance, the video caught France violating a victim while she was asleep on his sofa, and in a separate instance, he was seen filming an oblivious woman's body indecently in close range. Additionally, police came across footage displaying France stark naked during daylight hours at a roadside in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. At his sentence earlier this year, Judge Mr Justice Mark Bishop said: "The nature of those offences show you were predatory towards those women and, when they were incapacitated, you filmed them. Your comments showed no understanding of consent and you are on a journey of further understand of consent. You are misogynistic about women which is deeply unattractive and concerning. "You accept you became obsessed with recording social activities, that developed into recording your sexual activities. You have an attraction to risky behaviour and I judge that in this case a sense of sexual entitlement, coupled with taking risks and poor self-esteem, is a toxic risk. "You have not offended since being in a new relationship. That demonstrates the risk that is posed when a relationship ends. This is extraordinary behaviour to engage at the age of 33. You are a risk to society." DCI Helen Tebbit spoke of France's case being aired on 24 Hours in Police Custody and said: "Firstly, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the victims, who, despite their ordeals, supported the investigation and bravely shared their stories on 24 Hours in Police Custody. "This programme will show that sexual predators can cleverly disguise their depraved behaviours - victims may not realise they are being groomed. "France portrayed himself as everyone's best friend – caring, fun, and provided what his victims thought was a safe place to party. But in reality, he preyed on young women who had barely entered adulthood for his own sexual gratification." DCI Tebbit added that due to the nature of France's offending and the amount of footage obtained, it is possible that there are further victims. Tebbit encourages anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offence to contact them on 101 or via their web chat on the police website. You can find this here. 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Nightclub Predator will be aired on Channel 4 on Sunday and Monday at 9pm.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- The Sun
Who is Craig France and how long did the sexual predator get for his offences?
RAPIST Craig France was described as "a risk to society" by the judge presiding over his many sickening violations. Here we take a look at his callous crimes, which are featured in the new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody. 4 4 Who is Craig France? Craig France is a 33-year-old man from Hammonds Drive, Peterborough. He was convicted of a series of serious sexual offences against young women. His crimes came to light in August 2024, when a woman reported to police that she had been raped by France two years previously. She had only recently discovered that the sexual predator had filmed the attack. The victim was given a shot of 'sambuca' in France's garden — next thing she knew she was in his bed with no memory of what had happened. Triggering a wider investigation by Cambridgeshire Police, a disturbing pattern of predatory behaviour was uncovered, spanning from March 2022 to September 2023. France targeted women in nightclubs, gaining their trust before inviting them back to his home under the pretence of after-parties. Once there, he would ply his victims with alcohol, often to the point of unconsciousness or extreme intoxication. He would then commit sexual offences against them, having set up hidden cameras in his property to secretly film and photograph his abject attacks. Many of his victims were unconscious or asleep during the assaults, with police later finding more than 6,000 images and videos documenting his crimes — many of which involved unidentified women. Trailer for 24 Hours in Police Custody The investigation identified four women as victims, but officers believe there may be more who have not yet come forward. DCI Helen Tebbit said: 'I would encourage anyone who thinks they might've been a victim of a sexual offence to contact us on 101 or via web chat on the force website. "We take all reports of sexual offences very seriously. 'We have a dedicated team of specially trained officers ready to investigate allegations promptly, fully and professionally, and a network of partnership agencies and support services to offer assistance and support.' You are misogynistic about women, which is deeply unattractive and concerning Judge Mark Bishop DC Em Scates added: 'It's clear France is a depraved and calculating sexual predator and a danger to women. "It is one of the worst cases I have dealt with in 23 years of being a police officer." Trial France was arrested in September 2024 and initially denied the crimes, but later pleaded guilty at a hearing in February 2025. His offences included rape, sexual assault, three counts of voyeurism and exposure. The court heard that he recorded himself carrying out sexual acts on some of his victims while they were unable to consent. 4 Sentencing On 31 March 2025, France was sentenced to 10 years and seven months in prison. He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and the court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of his devices containing the illicit material. Presiding at Cambridge Crown Court, Judge Mark Bishop said during sentencing: "The nature of those offences show you were predatory towards those women and, when they were incapacitated, you filmed them. "Your comments showed no understanding of consent and you are on a journey of further understand of consent. "You are misogynistic about women, which is deeply unattractive and concerning. 4 "You accept you became obsessed with recording social activities, that developed into recording your sexual activities. "You have an attraction to risky behaviour and I judge that in this case a sense of sexual entitlement, coupled with taking risks and poor self-esteem, is a toxic risk. "You have not offended since being in a new relationship. "That demonstrates the risk that is posed when a relationship ends. "This is extraordinary behaviour to engage at the age of 33. You are a risk to society." 24 Hours in Police Custody The investigation and subsequent conviction of Craig France will be featured in a two-part special of Channel 4 's 24 Hours in Police Custody. The programme will provide an in-depth look at how France was brought to justice and the impact of his crimes on the victims and investigators involved. The first episode is scheduled to air on C4 at 9 pm on Sunday, July 6, 2025, with the second part following at the same time on Monday, July 7, 2025.
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
BBC News
29-06-2025
- BBC News
'Disturbing' case of body in locker on 24 Hours in Police Custody
Warning: This article contains spoilers about the documentary. A grisly murder enquiry that began as a missing person report will feature in a fly-on-the-wall TV documentary that follows a real police body of Annette Smith from Stotfold, Bedfordshire, was discovered in a suitcase concealed in a storage locker in May 2024.24 Hours in Police Custody follows "one of Bedfordshire Police's most harrowing investigations" across the first two episodes of the new Channel 4 Ch Insp Katie Dounias said the crime "shook the community" and highlighted "some of the most complex aspects of modern-day policing". The double bill, entitled "The Butcher of Suburbia", tracks the case after Ms Smith was reported missing in January 2024 by her lodger, Scott told police she had "left with a friend", so detectives did not investigate until a family member reported her missing in then 45, had been living rent-free in Ms Smith's spare room in exchange for company and running errands. They were friends and had gone on holiday together, but he became her carer after she had a later transpired that he had covered up her disappearance for months, using her email account to send Christmas messages and e-cards to family and friends."This was a really interesting case, because we didn't know it was a murder at the beginning and it was only over time it became that," said the programme's executive producer Simon Ch Insp Dounias said it was "a particularly disturbing case" that required "meticulous work" by detectives."We were trying to work out where Annette was and what happened to her. It's painstaking. There's lots of detail we need to trawl through," she said. In an unexpected twist, Ms Smith's killer calmly confesses to the crime during a police interview."When he was arrested he did not want a solicitor, and you kind of think at that point, is he going to confess or tell us what happened?" said Det Ch Insp Dounias."And then there's a feeling almost of - I don't like to use the word excitement because it sounds sensational - but it's excitement, because actually we might find Annette. "He might tell us where she is and we can try and repatriate her with her family and allow her a burial," she Ford also spoke about the key interview. "We are used to filming these cases where somebody has a solicitor and nine times out of of 10 there will be 'no comment' interview. "But if someone is going to to comment from the beginning, it's always going to be more interesting," he said. 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia starts Sunday 29 June at 21:00 BST on Channel 4, and concludes on Monday 30 June. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
