Murderer and rapist Craig Keogh killed 72-year-old Jane Hings so she could not identify him to the authorities, according to the judge who presided over his trial.

Justice Jeremy Baker made the damning comment while sentencing Keogh to a minimum of 32 years behind bars.

The judge told Birmingham Crown Court today that although Keogh’s motives “may never be known”, he believes the 26-year-old smothered the vulnerable pensioner in an attempt to cover up his prior crimes against her.

Before sentencing the killer, Judge Baker outlined Mrs Hings’ circumstances.

He said: “On September 24th, 2017, Jane Hings was 72 and lived alone with her dog, Paddy.

“She had only been released from a nursing home in mid-June.”

The judge explained how Mrs Hings ended up in care after a fall.

“As a result [of her fall] her mobility was affected," he said.

"She was undoubtedly vulnerable."

Speaking directly to Keogh, who lived in a caravan in Fleckney, the judge continued: “You knew of her vulnerability, because you had walked her dog on a number of occasions.”

Judge Sir Jeremy Baker

Judge Baker then recapped on the events of the night of Mrs Hings’ rape and murder.

“You [Keogh] went out with a group of friends to a couple of public houses," he said.

“You had a little money on you at that time, and were behaving as your usual jokey self.

“As the evening continued, people with you believed you had taken cocaine.

“At one point you said it was a ‘s***, boring night’. You said instead you could have spent the night with a couple of girls you had arranged to go out with.

“The last your friends saw of you was when you were dropped off at your caravan at 1.15am.”

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He then described how Keogh headed in the direction of Mrs Hings’ home, which he decided to enter of his own accord.

Mr Baker said: “What your intentions were may never be known. At the very least I am satisfied that you intended to steal from Jane Hings’ home. However, what you did was far worse.

“You brutally raped Jane Hings, before smothering her with one of her own pillows.

“At some point you removed her engagement and wedding rings, and pulled the crucifix from around her neck.

“You knew what you had done.”

Mr Baker went on to describe how Keogh left Mrs Hings' home before returning a second time, although exactly what he did on each occasion “might never be known”, said the judge.

A Gucci hat Keogh had worn was left in the house, and a tongue bar bearing Keogh's DNA was left on Mrs Hings’ body.

The ball of Keogh's tongue bar found on Jane's body
The ball of Keogh's tongue bar found on Jane's body
Keogh’s DNA was on this Gucci cap, found wedged between the head of the bed and wall in Jane's bedroom
Keogh’s DNA was on this Gucci cap, found wedged between the head of the bed and wall in Jane's bedroom

Mr Baker continued: “Bearing in mind what you had done, your conduct the next day was callous in the extreme.

“You drove to Leicester, purchased a new tongue bar for £60 before selling her [Mrs Hings’] jewellery for £105.”

Keogh gave Mrs Hings' stolen mobile to a companion and asked them to get rid of it.

He then went out with a group of friends and bought them drinks.

Judge Baker said: “The money you used was either stolen directly, or from [stolen] items you sold.”

Outlining what he believed was Keogh's motive for murder, the judge told the killer: "I am satisfied why you murdered Jane Hings was so she could not identify you as having robbed her and raped her."

He then addressed the mitigation which the killer's barrister had presented to the court earlier in the day.

The judge said: "I am satisfied that when you held the pillow over Jane Hings’ face you intended to kill her.

“There’s no evidence of remorse for what you did that night.

“The next day, your behaviour was callous.

“You told the police Jane Hings used to drink to excess and regularly paid you to have sex with her.

“Those were both lies.”

Judge Baker said he did not consider a lack of premeditation, as Keogh's barrister had suggested there was, nor Keogh’s age, which was 25 at the time of the crimes, as sufficient mitigation.

However, he did concede that Keogh's "difficult and emotional upbringing", as it was described by his barrister, might have led to his prior record of criminality.

Keogh was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder, and ordered to spend a minimum of 32 years behind bars, meaning he will be 57 by the time he can be considered for release.

He was sentenced to 15 years for each of the two counts of rape, and six years for burglary, which will run concurrently with his life sentence.