London man admits strangling mother, calling 999 and then feigning sleep during police interrogation
A son who strangled his elderly mother and then tried to evade justice by pretending to be asleep during police interviews has pleaded guilty to her murder at the Old Bailey.
Richard Clayton, 45, admitted to killing his 74-year-old mother, Angela Clayton, at the home they shared in Newham, east London. The fatal attack took place on February 17, after which Clayton himself dialled 999 to report the incident to emergency services.
Metropolitan Police officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service rushed to the property, arriving at 12:48 PM. They discovered Angela in her bedroom, but despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following his arrest, Clayton was taken into custody for questioning. Throughout his police interviews, he refused to cooperate, either answering “no comment” to questions or remaining entirely silent and pretending to be asleep in the interrogation room. Detectives charged him with murder the following day.
Appearing at the Old Bailey in central London, Clayton officially entered a guilty plea to the charge of murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, from Scotland Yard, expressed her condolences to the victim’s loved ones, describing Angela as a much-loved mother, grandmother, and friend. She added that while the conviction cannot undo their loss, police hope it brings the family some measure of closure, reiterating the force’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.
In a statement released after the hearing, Angela’s family emphasized that their focus over the last six months has been entirely on securing the justice she deserved.
Clayton has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, September 22.
