A man will spend the rest of his life in prison after killing a pensioner while released on licence – after he was jailed for two previous murders.
Lawrence Bierton has been sentenced to a rare whole-life order at Nottingham Crown Court for murdering 73-year-old Pauline Quinn.
Bierton bludgeoned the 73-year-old to death with her coffee table in a “brutal” attack at her home in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, in November 2021.
He had been wrongly housed next to her while on licence from a life sentence for murdering two sisters in 1995.
Sentencing Bierton, Mr Justice Pepperall said: “You have been found guilty of the senseless and brutal murder of three elderly and disabled women in their own homes.”
He said Bierton “showed each of the victims no mercy”.
“[These were] sustained attacks in which you used extraordinary levels of violence,” he said.
“I am left in no doubt whatsoever that you must never again be given the opportunity to walk the streets.
“The only just sentence in this case is that you should remain in prison for the rest of your life.”
A Probation Service representative told the court the decision to grant Bierton, 63, accommodation in Rayton Spur, Worksop, was “incorrect”.
Mr Justice Pepperall said it had been a “significant mistake”.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge said: “That decision was flawed and you should not have been housed among elderly and vulnerable residents,” he said.
“Ms Quinn was entitled to expect better, and the system plainly failed her.”
Read more:
The prisoners like Bierton and Letby serving whole-life sentences
The rare whole-life order was the first to be issued at Nottingham Crown Court since 2005.
They are the most severe penalty in the criminal justice system and are reserved for those who commit the most heinous crimes.
Other recipients of whole-life orders include serial killer Lucy Letby and Sarah Everard’s killer Wayne Couzens.
Bierton was jailed for life in 1996 for killing sisters Aileen Dudley, 79, and Elsie Gregory, 73, in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
They were bludgeoned and suffocated by Bierton and a co-defendant. Their bodies were then set on fire.
Bierton was found guilty of killing Ms Quinn after a two-week trial.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
