Thomas Schreiber was sentenced to at least 36 years in prison for the “ferocious” knife attack.
Image source, FAMILY HANDOUT
A man who killed one of the UK’s richest men and paralysed his own mother in a “ferocious” knife attack has been given a life sentence.
Thomas Schreiber fatally stabbed 83-year-old Sir Richard Sutton at his home near Gillingham, Dorset, in April.
The 35-year-old also attacked his mother Anne Schreiber, who was Sir Richard’s partner. He was convicted of murder and attempted murder.
He was jailed for a minimum of 36 years at Winchester Crown Court.
Armed police were called to Moorhill, Sir Richard’s home in Higher Langham that he shared with both Anne and Thomas Schreiber, at 19:30 BST on 7 April.
Ms Schreiber was “barely conscious” when she was found in the kitchen, before being carried out by police officers to waiting paramedics.
Sir Richard was found dead outside his upstairs bedroom. He had suffered multiple stab wounds.
Image source, Dorset Police
Prosecutor Adam Feest QC told the trial: “This was a ferocious and sustained attack on both victims.”
The trial heard Schreiber was angry with his mother for “abandoning” his late father, who suffered from depression, to move in with Sir Richard.
He accused her of being a “gold-digger” and believed Sir Richard treated him unfairly compared to his two sisters.
This was despite Schreiber, an aspiring painter, receiving a £1,000 monthly allowance and £100,000 towards buying a house.
The trial heard he had earlier told a friend he “couldn’t stand” Sir Richard, writing in a message: “My mind is consumed with hatred of the worst kind.”
“I contemplate murdering them… I want them to suffer,” he also wrote.
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