Gareth Dack

April 2016, Norma Bell, aged-79, was a mother of 3, a grandmother of 12 and a foster mother of 50.

Gareth Dack owed Norma £20, and when she asked for it back, he strangled her, tied a ligature around her neck, cut her clothing and underwear, and stole from her.

She, was found strangled in her burning home in Westbourne Road, Hartlepool, 

Gareth Dack, aged-33, ransacked her home, stole a boxed TV and £700, and used her phone to call sex chat lines. 

February 2017,He denied murder and arson during his trial at Teesside Crown Court. 

The father-of-four started fires in Mrs Bell's terraced home and turned on the gas in a bid to cause an explosion. 

Dack, who had borrowed £10 from his victim the weekend before, claimed he was not responsible and told the court she was a "wonderful woman". 

DNA matches were found inside the property, which Gareth Dack claimed were a result of him carrying out odd jobs for the pensioner. 

When he was asked why he did not answer detectives' questions after he was arrested, he could only say he thought the police were corrupt and had not wanted to help. 

Outside court, Ch Supt Alastair Simpson, of Cleveland Police, said Dack had interfered with Mrs Bell's clothing and cut her underwear. He added there was no evidence that he had sexually assaulted her, but said police had not ruled out the possibility. In addition to being strangled, Mrs Bell had injuries to her ribs and shoulders consistent with someone kneeling on her.