Cruel killer given 18 years sentence
Former Leighton woman goes to jail
A former Leighton woman who helped abuse and kill a vulnerable man whose dismembered body was dumped in a lake at a Beds beauty spot has been jailed for life.
Michael Gilbert, 26, was tortured for his benefit money by the extended Watt family at their home in Luton.
Natasha Oldfield, 29,who lived at Kilgour Court before her arrest, will serve at least 18 years for her part in the murder.
She was jailed by a judge at Luton Crown Court yesterday who condemned her for laughing and chatting as the trial played out.
The court heard that cruel Oldfield even kept details in her diary of an idea for a sick game show where participants could pay varying sums of money to assault Mr Gilbert.
It was 5 for a slap, 10 to punch him, 15 for a kick and 25 for a head butt.
The notes included the chilling line "Gilbert ends up dead".
Mr Gilbert died after years of physical and mental abuse during which he was habitually robbed of his benefit money.
The ringleader was said to be Oldfield's boyfriend, James Watt, from Luton, who goaded others in the family to repeatedly attack Mr Gilbert.
Their hapless victim was shot at with an air rifle, had mole grips applied to body parts and his hair set alight.
He slept on the floor handcuffed to a bed to prevent him escaping.
As his ordeal went on the violence increased and by the end of 2008 people were doing press-ups on a piece of wood across his mouth, and jumping on his stomach.
One of those who jumped on him was Nicola Roberts, from Luton, who weighed 21 stone at the time.
After that Mr Gilbert's health deteriorated, but no-one in the household sought help for him, even though he was losing control of his bowels and in constant pain.
He died at the house in Marlborough Road, Luton, on January 21 last year.
The same day his body was dismembered at the house and his head was cut off.
The parts were put in two plastic sacks - supplied by Oldfield - weighted down with coping stones from the garden wall, and driven to the Blue Lagoon at Arlesey.
One bag was found in May last year, but the head was not recovered until February this year after one of the Watt brothers, Richard, from Luton, confessed to police what had been happening in the house. He gave evidence for the prosecution.
James Watt and Nicola Roberts were also convicted of murder.
He was ordered to serve a minimum of 36 years and she a minimum of 15 years.
Richard Watt, the boyfriend of Nicola Roberts, had previously admitted familial homicide, or causing or allowing the death, and was jailed for six years.
The youngest brother, Robert Watt, 20, was jailed for eight years for the same offence as well as perverting the course of justice.
The brothers' mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, from Luton. was also found guilty of familial homicide and perverting the course of justice and jailed for 10 years.
Sentencing Oldfield, Judge John Bevan QC, said he had watched her laughing and chatting away in the dock during the trial.
He said: "You stuck limpet like to James Watt to gain some perverse pleasure."
The family from hell were told by the judge that their behaviour was 'depraved' during the 10 years that Michael Gilbert lived with them.
He said: "I don't think I have ever seen a case involving cruelty and violence involving group entertainment as this grotesque story has revealed.
"It was positively barbaric in today's society.
"I cannot understand how this grotesque situation was allowed to continue.
"Michael Gilbert may have had many faults but that was no reason to treat him as a plaything for your enjoyment and entertainment.
"He was treated as a dogsbody, his life was a misery.
"It was as desperate and disparate situation as one can imagine."
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Wednesday 22 May 2013
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