Killer who dismembered lodger has sentence extended

A man who murdered his lodger and disposed of his severed body parts in packages and a suitcase has had his minimum prison term increased.

Benjamin Atkins, 49, killed Simon Shotton, also 49, at their home in Bournemouth in August 2023, following a dispute over money and drugs.

Atkins' had been sentenced to a minimum of 19 years in prison at Winchester Crown Court in July, but that has now been extended to a minimum of 21 years.

His partner, Debbie Pereira, 39, who was jailed for perverting the course of justice and preventing a lawful burial also saw her sentence increased from four years to six.

Following a reference from the Solicitor General under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme, both sentences were increased by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

Warning: This story contains graphic details that readers may find upsetting

Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Mr Justice Johnson and Mrs Justice Heather Williams, ruled both initial sentences had been unduly lenient.

He said: "Even if Atkins' criminality had been limited to the killing itself and the subsequent acts had not taken place, the case would have required a minimum term well in excess of 15 years."

"But of course, Atkins' criminality was not so limited."

Mr Shotton's legs were disposed of on the Manor Steps Zig Zag footpath at Boscombe seafront in August 2023.

The trial was told how a member of the public was sheltering under a tree when a package containing the human remains landed beside her.

In September, the victim's arms were found in the couple's garden in Aylesbury Road, and his torso was discovered in a suitcase at Boscombe Chine Gardens.

Louise Oakley, for the Solicitor General, told the Court of Appeal that a fight broke out between Mr Shotton and Atkins on 18 August 2023.

Mr Shotton had been living in a tent in the garden of the flat Atkins shared with Pereira, in Aylesbury Road, Boscombe, giving the defendants drugs in lieu of paying rent.

During his trial, Atkins admitted to killing Mr Shotton at the couple's home and dismembering his body, but claimed he had acted out of self-defence.

However, Ms Oakley said: "The learned (sentencing) judge concluded that the violence inflicted on Simon Shotton was ferocious and unnecessary."

The barrister told the court that Atkins "systematically" dismembered Mr Shotton's body "over a number of days", and later tried to burn the lodger's head in a back garden fire pit.

She said: "Only tiny fragments were ever recovered. Atkins has never said what he did with the rest of his head."

Ms Oakley told the court that the murder was aggravated by elements including Mr Shotton's dismemberment and how his belongings were sold after his death.

The judges heard there was an "extensive cleaning operation to remove all traces of blood from the property" by Atkins and Pereira.

Pereira did not take part in the fight, but did not call the emergency services, and acted as a "decoy" when Atkins stole a hacksaw, the court was told.

Zafar Ali KC, for Atkins, said his sentence was not unduly lenient and that the sentencing judge "was best placed to fully understand the nuances of the case".

Ignatius Hughes KC, for Pereira, said that she had a "so much secondary" role.

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