A tenant who murdered and dismembered his 74-year-old landlady in Fairfield, before hiding her remains in a Letchworth storage unit, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Scott Paterson, 45, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the murder of Annette Smith at Luton Crown Court in September.

Today (Monday, November 4), he has been sentenced to life in prison.

Paterson killed Annette in the home they shared in Fairfield, near Stotfold, in November last year and hid her remains in a Letchworth storage unit. 

Annette Smith was killed in her home.Annette Smith was killed in her home. (Image: Courtesy of Bedfordshire Police)

He then used her email account to send Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends in an effort to convince them she was still alive.

He even reported to police that she had left their home with an unknown woman to cover his tracks.

However, in April, concerns were raised by relatives and an investigation was launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.  

Detectives discovered her passport and clothing were still at the home along with her laptop, which had been used to send the Christmas messages. 

When he was arrested, Paterson made a full admission and directed police to a storage unit where he had hidden her remains.