A man who tortured and murdered a “defenceless” man in a drug-fuelled revenge attack has been sentenced to life behind bars.
Philip Watson, 35, carried out a “prolonged and violent” attack against Paul Tillet, 56, in his Harrogate in September last year.
Watson tied up Mr Tillet and repeatedly punched, kicked and scalded him using a homemade “flamethrower”, Leeds Crown Court was told.
The 35-year-old killer pleaded guilty to murder and must serve a minimum of 32 years in prison before he is considered for parole.
Philip Watson, 35, carried out a ‘prolonged and violent’ attack against Paul Tillet
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NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE
Prosecutor Jamie Hill KC told the court that Mr Tillet had suffered with mental health problems, including schizophrenia, and struggled with drug addiction.
Mr Hill added that the victim had been “taken advantage of” by other drug addicts who had been staying at his home.
Leeds Crown Court also heard that Mr Tillet had previously gone to the police after being “bullied by Watson”.
Just weeks before the brutal killings, Mr Watson allegedly brandished a blade at the victim after saying he was a “grass”
Leeds Crown Court also heard that Mr Tillet had previously gone to the police after being ‘bullied by Watson’
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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A witness told the police that a small group, including Watson, gathered at Mr Tillet’s flat to engage in drug use on September 28.
The witness told the court that she was forced to watch Watson erupt into a violent frenzy against the victim.
The prosecutor said: “Paul Tillet was punched and kicked in the head, stamped on, tied up, burnt with an aerosol can as a makeshift flamethrower [and] his ears and nose were cut with nail clippers.”
The letter W was carved into his head and he was stabbed in the backside during the ordeal, with the prosecutor saying the attack was “effectively torture”.
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Mr Justice Hilliard said Watson was perpetrated a “prolonged and violent attack on a defenceless Mr Tillet in his own home” as he was passing sentence.
The judge also noted that “revenge” was a driving force behind Watson’s depraved actions.
Mr Hilliard added that the killer seemed to display a “great deal of enthusiasm for inflicting pain, suffering and humiliation” on the victim.
David Lamb KC, defending, told the court that Watson had a difficult upbringing and was “disowned” by his mother as a young teenager.
The barrister added that his client had been “struggling with extreme paranoia, thoughts of suicide, self harm, anxiety and general depression”.
Addressing the court, the victim’s mother Marjorie said: “I’m living a nightmare and I want it to stop.
“I have shut myself off from people and don’t really talk. I don’t sleep very well.”
In a separate statement from Mr Tillet’s family, they said they felt “left down by services” after it allegedly took North Yorkshire Council “nearly a year” to assign a social worker to help the victim.