PURE EVIL
Carer calmly listens to classical music after trying to smother disabled woman, 75, to death with pillow
A CARER who tried to smother a disabled elderly woman with a pillow was found calmly listening to classical music when he was arrested by police.
Police bodycam footage shows the moment Barry Riley was detained on suspicion of attempting to murder 75-year-old Ann Skelton.
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In the video, the 62-year-old Riley is seen sat at his desk with his arms crossed and listening to music as an officer explains why he is being arrested.
The carer was jailed at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday for the attempted murder of Ms Skelton in a bid to attempt to cover up the fact that he had stolen more than £100,000 from her.
During the attack, Ms Skelton managed to press her buzzer to alert other care staff, who arrived to find her slumped over the side of her bed.
The incident took place at her home in Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol on March 10, 2018.
Riley, of East Morton in West Yorkshire, provided care for the victim, who had a degenerative physical condition, and he had Power of Attorney over her finances.
Ms Skelton, who was unable to talk due to her condition and used a keyboard to communicate, died in hospital a few months after this incident.
A forensic post-mortem examination was carried out but found no link between the incident and the cause of death.
Investigating officer Det Sgt Craig Basil said: "Barry Riley claimed he was carrying out a mercy killing because of Ms Skelton's condition and he said she'd asked him to help end her life.
"Following a court hearing, his fabricated story was dismissed by the judge, who ruled that he'd gone to her room that night to kill her, and that his actions were at least partly to hide the fact he'd defrauded her.
"This was a cold and calculating attack on a woman unable to defend herself.
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"The depths of his criminality knew no bounds and even on the day of the failed attempt to kill Ann Skelton, Riley went to the cashpoint to withdraw more of her money.
Sgt Basil went on to thank Ms Skelton's family for providing support during the investigation which had clearly been a "distressing ordeal".
Riley was jailed for eleven years and eight months and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.
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