A man who suffocated his mother to death at her Ashton-on-Ribble home has been jailed.

John Stephen Green will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

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Following a one-week trial at Preston Crown Court a jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict on the 65-year-old.

His mother, Bernadette Green, was found at her home in Inkerman Street on Friday 18 May.

Preston Police initially classed her death as ‘not suspicious’ before a post mortem carried out in June gave the cause of the 88-year-old’s death as smothering.

Green was later arrested and charged with murder following a murder investigation by police.

He had lived with his mother at Inkerman Street since 2009 and he became her sole carer in July that year after Bernadette had a fall.

The court heard how at the time of her death Bernadette weighed just 5st 10.

Police established that despite her deteriorating health Bernadette had not seen a doctor since 2013 and Green had turned down all opportunities for medical assistance.

Text messages sent in the months leading up to Bernadette’s death revealed Green referred to his mother as a ‘stinking corpse’.

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Green has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 14 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Hurst said: “Naturally our thoughts are with Mrs Green’s family.

“This is an abhorrent case where a man who should have been caring for his elderly, vulnerable mother instead neglected her and ultimately took her life so he could be free of his perceived burden of caring for her.

“Green denied his involvement throughout despite significant evidence to the contrary and I would like to thank the jury for carefully considering all the evidence and arriving at this decision.

“We welcome his conviction and hope it brings some justice to Mrs Green’s family and friends.”

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