Sadistic killer should never be freed >vid
Even these words do not reflect the full horror of Robert Tozer's unprovoked and sustained attack on frail Joan Charlton.
He broke into his 85-year-old neighbour's house in West Parade, off Londesborough Street, west Hull, broke every bone in her face with a bottle and set fire to her while she was still alive.
Tozer has not shown any sign of remorse since and has offered no explanation for his savagery.
He is now serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to murder at Hull Crown Court.
Tozer, 20, will not be eligible for parole until 2031 at the earliest.
His former girlfriend is now leading calls for him to never be released from prison.
Gemma Priestley, 20, was in a relationship with Tozer at the time of the horrific murder in June.
She told the Mail: "He should be locked up forever for what he did.
"After the murder he was living with me. I didn't suspect he had anything to do with it.
"He acted totally normal. He did a barbecue, he helped me clean up and went shopping with me.
"I just cannot believe he did this, I just want to know why."
Tozer broke into widow Mrs Charlton's home in the early hours.
He forced her out of bed into a chair in her living room and subjected her to a terrifying assault.
Tozer repeatedly stuck her round the head with a bottle and punched and kicked her until she told him where her money was.
When she tried to call for help he disconnected her phone.
Tozer, who had only been released from a pervious period of incarceration weeks earlier for hitting a man with a pool cue, then continued to hit her with a bottle.
He even carried on with the broken bottle neck when it smashed
He threw food at her as she lay on the floor.
Tozer then grabbed a wicker ornament off the wall, placed it on Mrs Charlton and set fire to her.
He later admitted in police interview he knew she was still alive.
He disconnected the smoke alarm and left with £360.
In a statement, Mrs Charlton's sister Barbara Beecroft said: "It is beyond comprehension that someone could inflict these horrific injuries on another human being.
"I hope the sentence imposed ensures that he never gets the chance to harm another helpless person."
In sentencing Tozer, Judge MichaelMettyear said: "This is a truly shocking crime.
"You subjected her to a sustained and merciless degree of violence.
"The nature and ferocity of your attack has been outlined.
"Her injuries were horrific.
"If all that was not bad enough, to make matters worse you set fire to her, probably while she was still alive."
The judge added:
Detective Superintendent Dena Fleming, who led the investigation, said: "This was a sadistic and barbaric attack on an elderly lady in her own home - a place where we all think we should be safe."
Robert Tozer
