A postman who battered a woman to death was out dining and drinking in Malton just hours later.
Emily Sanderson, 50, was hit at least 13 times with a dumbbell by postman Mark Nicholls who then wrapped up her body in his Sheffield home where it lay undiscovered for 11 days, a judge heard.
Jailing Nicholls for life today (Friday), Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said it was a “ferociously violent attack on a defenceless woman” and added: “There was an unrelenting avalanche of violence visited upon her.”
Sam Green KC, prosecuting, said Ms Sanderson worked as an escort and the defendant was one of her clients.
Mr Green said that the morning after the killing at his home in Crofton Avenue, in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield on the evening of 19 May, Nicholls took an early train to Malton.
The prosecutor said the defendant was captured on CCTV drinking in pubs and a restaurant in the town with a female companion.
‘A wicked act’
Ms Sanderson’s final moments were captured on a phone call to a taxi firm.
Sheffield Crown Court was played a recording of the mother-of-three’s call which is interrupted by a muffled scream and Nicholls saying “robbing bitch” before a series of dull thuds are heard and the operator ends the call.
Nicholls, who admitted Ms Sanderson’s murder, showed little emotion as he sat in the dock listening to the recording with many of his victim’s family and friends in the packed courtroom looking on.
Ms Sanderson’s family reported her missing on 25 May and her body was found after police broke into Nicholls’ house on 30 May.
Jamie Hill KC, defending, said Nicholls’ recollection of the incident is tainted by his consumption of alcohol and crack cocaine.
Ordering that Nicholls serve a minimum of 17 and a half years before he is considered for release, a visibly angry Judge Richardson said: “This was a truly wicked act.”
He said: “You perpetrated a brutal murder of a young woman. You repeatedly bludgeoned her with determined ferocity.”