Woman gets 24 years minimum for ‘horrific’ murder of pensioner, 86

Karen Williamson, 46, was told she will spend a minimum of 24 years in prison for the horrific attack on 86-year-old Jean Jobson, who was known as Pat.

She arrived at Mrs Jobson’s house in Downham, south-east London late at night in February last year and beat her with a hammer and a heavy glass jug

Judge Paul Worsley QC told her at the Olsd Bailey: “You stand to be sentenced for the brutal murder of an 86-year-old widow who lived on her own. No doubt those remaining years for her were very precious.”

He added: “The attack which you carried out was frenzied and brutal. Pat Jobson, despite her age, put up a valiant fight against you.”

He said she had carried out the violent attack in order to steal – days after the murder Williamson sold jewellery belonging to Mrs Jobson for a “paltry £61” the court heard.

The judge continued: “It was a murder of a vulnerable 86-year-old woman who was in the sanctity and privacy of her home where she deserved to be able to think that she would be safe. She was not.”

He said she had opened the door “trusting you and believing you were a friend”.

As she was led away, Williamson, of Downham, called out: “I’m sorry.”

Speaking outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons said: “It was one of the most horrific murders I’ve come across.”

Her nephew Mark Montgomery said in a victim impact statement: “We can’t express the anger we feel towards the person responsible for Pat’s horrific murder.”

He went on: “She was in good health for her age and in no way deserved to have her life cut short in such a cruel and despicable manner.”

In mitigation, the court heard that on the day of the murder, Williamson had binged on crack cocaine after being arrested for stalking a former work colleague.

On her way to buy more drugs she decided to stop at Mrs Jobson’s house to try to resolve a dispute over gardening work. Williamson was due to clear the garden but had failed to do so.

Alan Kent QC, defending, said: the women were arguing and as Mrs Jobson went to pick up the telephone, Williamson hit her over the head with a hammer. “It’s at that point that she went into a frenzy. She continued to hit Pat Jobson.”