Clacton: Man Jailed for Life For Murdering Mum

A carpet fitter from Clacton who smothered his frail mother to death has been jailed for life, with a minimum of 18 years.

Grandmother Carol Cooper, 66, was discovered by police lying in bed with a pillow over her face in her flat in St Vincent Road, Clacton, in November.

Her son, Peter Dickson, 37, who lived with her, was found kneeling alongside her lifeless body, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Dickson had already admitted manslaughter but denied murder saying he had not intended to kill her.

He was convicted by a jury after a 12-day trial.

He did not give evidence during the trial but the court heard from a psychiatrist that he may have a personality disorder.

The judge said Dickson had committed a "brutal and vicious attack" on a woman who "doted" on him.

Senior Investigating Officer, DCI Anne Cameron, said: "We are delighted with today’s verdict. We would like to thank Carol’s family who have given us so much assistance during the entire investigation and throughout the trial. 

"Since Carol’s death, her family and friends have been through an extremely difficult and trying time yet have acted with great dignity throughout. The loss of Carol from their lives was made even harder by the fact that her son, Peter Dickson, whom she loved, was the person responsible for her murder. 

"We again pass on our condolences to Carol’s family for their loss. There can be no excuse for the actions of Peter Dickson. He showed a complete disregard for the life of Carol and has now been sentenced and will have many years to reflect upon the utter distress he has caused to many people. 

"Carol’s death impacted on neighbours and we again thank them for their help during the investigation. Finally, I would like to thank all those officers and expert witnesses who dedicated many hours to bringing this case to court.”

In a statement, Carol’s sister, Daphne Wilson, said: "Our beloved Carol was so cruelly taken from us by her son. We have now found justice for her and she can finally rest in peace. A person who truly loved life and lived it to the full, she will never be forgotten. 

"We would like to thank Essex Police for their continued support and caring approach to our devastating loss. We also thank the team from Victim Support who have always been there for us."