A prostitute who murdered a wealthy property developer before pilfering his bank account was jailed for life today.
Emma Bate, 26, and her boyfriend Paramjit Singh, 33, battered and stabbed businessman Richard Sherratt to death in his own home after torturing him for his PIN.
Just hours after his death, Bate was caught on CCTV smooching and celebrating with Singh after withdrawing cash from the bank account of her ‘sugar-daddy’.
‘Strong message’: Prostitute Emma Bate (left) and her boyfriend Parmajit Singh (right) were jailed for life today for murdering her wealthy businessman ‘sugar-daddy’ who they tortured before stabbing him to death
Sherratt, who was said to be ‘infatuated’ with Bate and showered her gifts as well as giving her £8,000, was found semi-naked on his blood-stained bed by his former partner on June 15 last year.
He had suffered a total of 38 injuries including five blows to the head, a stab wound to his arm and puncture marks on his face and neck. He died from blood blocking his airways.
Pictures released by police after the case show the moment the couple snogged outside a bank in Handsworth, Birmingham, the following day and Bate waving her arm around in a ‘celebratory manner.’
Horrific death: Richard Sherratt suffered a total of 38 injuries including five blows to the head, a stab wound to his arm and puncture marks on his face and neck
The pair were jailed for life at Stafford Crown Court today after Bate was found guilty of murder at a trial in January.
The vice girl, from Birmingham, had denied murder, but admitted robbing.
She told the court during the trial: ‘I feel really bad because he treated me like a princess.’
Singh, also from Birmingham, had already admitted murdering, robbing and defrauding Mr Sherratt.
Bate will serve a minimum sentence of 25 years for his murder, while Singh was ordered to serve at least 18 years.
They were both given 10 years each to run concurrently for robbery.
After the case, Detective Inspector Steve Tonks, from West Mercia Police, said: ‘The motive for this crime was clearly greed and the defendants Singh and Bate resorted to violence in seeking access to their victim’s money.
‘It was a premeditated crime whereby they planned to rob Mr Sherratt and to commit fraud by withdrawing funds from his bank accounts.
‘They planned to travel late at night when they knew Mr Sherratt would be at home and would be asleep.
‘The court heard distressing details about the degree of violence used while Mr Sherratt was held captive and tortured in his own home last June.
‘He was subjected to a callous and brutal ordeal with the injuries sustained, sadly resulting in his death.
‘Today’s verdicts send out a strong message that anyone resorting to violence for criminal purposes, will be brought to justice.
‘The circumstances of this case with its tragic outcome have been harrowing.’
No remorse: The pair were caught on CCTV enjoying a passionate kiss just hours after killing Mr Sherratt
Sent down: Bate will serve a minimum sentence of 25 years, while Singh was ordered to serve at least 18
CCTV shows Bate walking away from a cash machine with her arms outstretched in a ‘celebratory manner’
During Bate’s trial, the jury heard twice-divorced Mr Sherratt had met the hooker and treated her to expensive jewellery, nights in luxury hotels and thousands in cash gifts in March last year.
Mr Sherratt, who was the brother of Francine Austin, ex-wife of David Austin who runs world renowned David Austin Roses, was said to be ‘craving companionship’.
He took her to four-star hotels, plush restaurants, put £8,000 in her bank account and even planned to take her on holiday to Dubai.
But they split up in May after she began bombarding him with text messages begging for cash to fund her addiction to crack cocaine.
The court heard Bate and Singh targeted Mr Sherratt because she knew he was well off and she needed cash to fund her addiction to class A drugs.
Leave a reply