Carer hit 90-year-old widow over the top and suffocated her to demise

A carer has pleaded guilty to murdering a 90-year-old widow after stealing £60 from her handbag.

Jane Hill, 51, was one of the carers who were supposed to be looking after Myra Thompson at her townhouse.

But on April 23, the pensioner was found dead at the property in Spital, Merseyside. A postmortem revealed she had been struck over the head with a metal flask, then asphyxiated.

Hill, of Upton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court by videolink yesterday and pleaded guilty to Mrs Thompson’s murder.

In a police interview, she said she had let herself into the house the evening after Mrs Thompson reported the theft to police. She said she asked Mrs Thompson to reconsider her complaint and offered to repay the money.

The prosecution said that in an ensuing confrontation she struck the pensioner twice over the head with a metal flask before suffocating her with a pillow.

Hill, of Upton, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court by videolink yesterday and pleaded guilty to Mrs Thompson’s murder. Pictured: Liverpool Crown Court 

The defendant also admitted to stealing the cash from the victim on April 12.

Judge Denis Watson, KC, told Hill, currently on remand at Styal women’s prison: ‘Your plea means there is only one sentence in law that can be passed and it will be a sentence of imprisonment for life.’

He adjourned sentencing until September 20, adding that it would be for the sentencing judge to decide the term she must serve.

Jane Hill, 51, was one of the carers who were supposed to be looking after Myra Thompson at her townhouse. But on April 23, the pensioner was found dead at the property in Spital, Merseyside. (stock image) 

The court heard Mrs Thompson’s friends suspected money was being stolen and so installed CCTV cameras – which revealed Hill as the thief and she was reported to police in early April. On April 22, a number of carers visited Mrs Thompson at her home address and she was last seen alive at about 6pm.

Neighbours said the retired healthcare worker was a ‘bright woman’ and ‘not easily fooled’.

Ray Jarvis, 78, who lives nearby, said: ‘She lived in that house for at least 30 years. She was very upset when her husband Charles died a few years ago and started to go out less. She bought the Daily Mail every day and did the sudoku and crossword without fail.’