A murderer who beat his elderly neighbour to death has been jailed for life…

A murderer who beat his elderly neighbour to death has been jailed for life.

Pauline Quinn, aged 72, was found unconscious in the living room of her bungalow in Rayton Spur, Worksop.

The much-loved mother, sister and grandmother had suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after emergency services had forced entry to her home address on 9 November 2021.

A murder investigation was launched and a suspect was arrested the following morning.

Laurence Bierton, aged 63, was detained at a petrol station in Barnsley after the Renault Clio he had stolen from Pauline was tracked by officers.

Bierton had previously served nearly 25 years in prison for killing two women in 1995.

Sisters Aileen Dudhill, aged 79, and Elsie Gregory, aged 72, were murdered by Bierton in Rotherham.

He was released in 2020 and later moved to the Worksop area.

Bierton was found guilty of Pauline’s murder and an additional charge of theft after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, which concluded on Thursday 14 December.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday 20 December he was jailed for life.

Mr Justice Pepperall ruled that Bierton must serve a whole life order, which means he will never be released from prison.

He said that was a “senseless and brutal” attack on “an elderly and vulnerable” woman in her own home.

He added: “You surprised her by leaping over her garden fence and asking for money so you could buy alcohol. When she refused, you pushed her to the floor and pursued her into her own living room.

“She activated the alarm cord to desperately summon help. You then went about bludgeoning her to death. This was not an explosive frenzied attack but a man that was in control. She was murdered in her own home where she should have been safe. This was a brutal and sustained attack.

“You must never again have the opportunity to walk the streets and endanger women in their own homes. You should remain in prison for the rest of your life.”

Detective Inspector Kaz Smithson said: “Bierton is a violent and dangerous criminal who will quite rightly spend a long time behind bars. This was an appalling crime that shocked the local community and devastated Pauline’s family and friends.

“As this case finally comes to an end, I would like to pay tribute to Pauline’s family, who have shown enormous dignity throughout the legal process.

“We know that no sentence can possibly compensate for the loss of a much-loved mother, sister and grandmother, but I do hope this sentence provides them with some degree of closure.

“Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”