'Evil, depraved man' might never be released from jail

AN EVIL, perverted and depraved man who raped and murdered a grandmother in her own home has been warned he may never be released from jail.

Darren Jackson left the lifeless, battered and naked body of 67-year-old Irene Lawless on the bedroom floor of her bungalow.

Jackson, 26, was told he might never be released from prison.

"With your warped and perverted mind, it may well be that you are never released and will spend the remaining days of your life in prison," Mr Justice John Royce told him.

in the early morning of January 22, Jackson used a window to break into Ms Lawless's home in Bryndulais, Llanllwni, where she lived alone.

He raped her twice, leaving her with bruises to 28 different parts of her body and 20 fractured ribs, before strangling her.

Judge Royce, sitting at Swansea Crown Court, said: "The humiliation and the mental and physical anguish to which she was subjected to before she died at your hands are horrific. This was nothing short of evil depravity."

The court was told Jackson, originally from Kent, had been staying with his mother and stepfather who lived next door.

Police found he had been researching "rape-themed" websites, all with explicit titles.

The judge said he had a "perverted interest" in rape.

Friends and family sat in court to hear the disturbing details.

Ms Lawless was last seen at 4pm on January 20, two days before neighbours found her body.

Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, said it was not clear exactly what had happened but said Ms Lawless must have been asleep when Jackson went into her bedroom. She said the injuries to Ms Lawless's ribs were evidence of the force he used.

She said Ms Lawless had tried to fight back, leaving Jackson with an inch long scratch to his face.

Jackson stole her handbag and car keys. The bag was later found by police, buried in the bottom of a plantpot at Jackson's mother's home.

After the murder, Jackson drove Ms Lawless's car to Deal in Kent.

He stopped at Tesco in Carmarthen to buy petrol at 7.56am — just hours after strangling the pensioner.

Police found Jackson, and the stolen car, in Deal in Kent on January 23.

The judge said: "The 20 rib fractures and other significant injuries to her face and body reveal the heartless violence that you meted out to a defenceless grandmother for your own perverted pleasure and gratification.

"It's clear that she must have put up a significant struggle," Mr Justice Royce added.

Ms Evans said Ms Lawless had been a carer for her mother and babysat for her grandchildren, one of who has learning difficulties. Her own daughter had tragically died in 1993.

Mr Justice John Royce said: "She was one of life's givers rather than takers and she had everything to live for.

Jackson had previous convictions involving motor vehicles, but none of violence.

Christopher Clee QC, representing Jackson, said: "The only realistic mitigation here are the pleas of guilty. They are at least some acknowledgement of the enormity of what he has done."

Jackson who admitted murder and two charges of rape was given a life term for murder, while 12 year terms were imposed for two counts of rape. They will run concurrently to each other and the life sentence.

ruth.mosalski@swwmedia.co.uk