A teenager today admitted murdering his teaching assistant mother after her body was found by walkers near her seaside home.
Tristan Roberts, 18, appeared at Mold Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to murdering Angela Shellis on October 24 last year.
The body of the 45-year-old – described by devastated relatives as having ‘a heart full of love and kindness’ – was found by walkers in undergrowth beside a footpath near a nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales.
Details of her killing were not spelt out during today’s brief hearing.
But when Roberts first appeared in court, prosecutor Julia Galston said he had ‘vulnerabilities’.
Mrs Galston said the victim’s sister had been becoming increasingly worried for her safety.
Police went to Robert’s home in Prestatyn where he had barricaded himself in a room.
On being arrested, he asked: ‘Was the body you found my mum or not?’
Angela Shellis, 45, was found dead in undergrowth beside a footpath near a nature reserve in Prestatyn, north Wales on October 24 last year
Tristan Roberts, 18, leaving Mold Crown Court today where he pleaded guilty to murdering his mother, Angela Shellis
CCTV footage showed the teenager and his mother leaving the family home and making their way to the nature reserve in the middle of the night.
Roberts was carrying a rucksack.
A Ring doorbell and CCTV later captured him returning.
Ms Shellis, who worked as a teaching assistant at Rhyl High School, suffered severe blunt force head trauma, an inquest opening heard.
Tributes were paid following her tragic death, including from her sister Sarah Gunther who said: ‘She was only 45 years old and such a lovely, happy person and loved by anyone who met her.
‘She had a heart full of love and kindness, always put others before herself.
‘Losing her so suddenly has left our family devastated and struggling to come to terms with this unimaginable loss.’
Angela Shellis (pictured) was described by grieving relatives as having ‘a heart full of love and kindness’
Rhyl High School’s headteacher Philip Collins described her as ‘caring and committed’.
He said: ‘Angela was a valued member of staff, who joined the Rhyl High team in 2023 and was a caring and committed teaching assistant.
‘We are deeply upset as a school community and hold Angela’s family and friends foremost in our thoughts, as they try to come to terms with their loss.’
Roberts, with shoulder-length black hair, was wearing a blue jumper and dark trousers in the glass-fronted dock during the hearing.
A trial had been due to take place last month, but after a psychiatric report was discussed with him by his defence team in the cells he entered his guilty plea.
The teenager will receive a life sentence and be told the minimum term he must serve at a hearing next month.
Remanding the teenager back into custody, Judge Rhys Rowlands told him: ‘There can only be one sentence for the offence of murder.
‘The fact you have pleaded guilty will be reflected in the sentence.’
A spokesman for North Wales Police said Roberts had been ‘quickly identified as a suspect and he was subsequently arrested at his home address’ before being charged with murder four days later.