Self-confessed ‘psychopath’, 47, who murdered his neighbour because he ‘didn’t like her’ then sat and watched TV in her flat as she lay dying is jailed for life
- David Mottram, 47, killed his neighbour Samantha Heap in Congleton, Cheshire, on March 2
- Mottram savagely attacked 45-year-old Miss Heap ‘because he didn’t like her’
- ‘I feel no shame, compassion or regret for what I did to my neighbour,’ he said
- Judge Michael Keeling jailed him for life with a minimum term of 30 years
A self-confessed psychopath who murdered his neighbour because he ‘didn’t like her’ must serve a minimum of 30 years before he can be considered for release.
David Mottram, 47, killed Samantha Heap at Mount Pleasant supported living accommodation in Congleton, Cheshire, on March 2.
Chester Crown Court heard Mottram carried out the ‘cold-blooded and premeditated murder’ after taking a plastic flex to her flat and using it to strangle her.
David Mottram, 47, killed Samantha Heap at a supported living accommodation in Congleton, Cheshire, on March 2.
After the murder, Mottram sat in Miss Heap’s flat and watched television – later saying that killing her gave him a high
He also took a knife from her kitchen and used it to inflict 14 sharp force injuries including three stab wounds – to her face, cheek and back.
Miss Heap, 45, suffered nine fractured ribs and more than 60 injuries on her body.
The court heard Miss Heap, who was independent but was unsteady on her feet, had ordered a takeaway which was delivered before 5pm.
Shortly after that Mottram, who lived in the flat below, tricked his way inside her home before subjecting her to a brutal and sustained attack.
He placed a wooden DVD unit on her body as she lay on the floor dying.
At 10.27pm, after returning to his flat, called Crisis Line and informed the call taker he had killed his neighbour.
He said he had sat in Miss Heap’s flat and watched television and added that killing her gave him a high.
The court heard there was a ‘debris of disturbance’ in Miss Heap’s flat and she had defensive injuries.
The murder has devastated Miss Heap’s relatives. Her aunt said: ‘She was a lovely, warm person. She had no bad in her.’
A pathologist gave the cause of death as neck compression.
While in custody awaiting trial, Mottram wrote a letter to a relative in which he said: ‘I have been planning it for years.
‘I feel no shame, compassion or regret for what I did to my neighbour. I have never liked her. Sixteen-and-a-half years with her is too long. I have always been a psychopath. Since I have done the crime I should do the time.’
Despite that admission Mottram denied murder. But he was found guilty last week after an eight-day trial.
The murder has devastated Miss Heap’s relatives. Her aunt said: ‘She was a lovely, warm person. She had no bad in her. She did not deserve what happened.’
Benjamin Myers QC, mitigating, argued it was ‘not a 30-year case’ and said the starting point should be 15 years.
But Judge Michael Keeling sentenced Mottram to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years, less the 208 days he has spent on remand.
He will only be considered for release upon approval by the Parole Board.
The judge said the Mottram’s mental health issues and his diagnosis as having Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ADS) provided only limited mitigation.
Judge Keeling said: ‘Acts of strangulation, manually and by the use of a ligature, resulted in the death of the deceased.
‘I am sure your intention to kill your neighbour was a long-standing one for notoriety and your desire to be remembered.
‘There is no doubt you were aware of your actions at the time. You wanted to kill her and that is exactly what you did.
‘You are a dangerous man.’
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