John William Mason was told yesterday (Thursday) that 'in all likelihood' he would die in jail for the 'brutal, heartless and despicable' murder of a Narberth pensioner.

Mason, aged 55, was jailed for life this afternoon and told he would serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars.

The judge, Mr. Justice Wyn Williams, said he had considered making the minimum term longer but, bearing in mind his age, it was likely he would never be released anyway.

Mason was convicted unanimously of beating to death Angelika Dries-Jenkins, aged 66, at her home at Providence Hill, Narberth, on June 1 last year.

Sentencing Mason, originally from Narberth, but lately of Llandissilio, Mr. Justice Williams said the motive had been to steal money.

Mason had left the scene with her bank card and pin number and spent the following hours and days 'spending her money as if you did not have a care in the world'.

He said Mason had carried out a brutal and heartless attack on a kind and gentle woman which had had far reaching consequences for her family.

The jury at Swansea Crown Court took less that two hours to convict Mason.

Afterwards, Patrick Harrington QC, the barrister leading the prosecution, revealed details of Mason's violent past.

At the time of the murder, he had been the subject of a community service order imposed for threatening to kill the grandson of his partner, Denise Evans, at her home in Hill Park, Narberth.

Mr. Harrington said in March last year police went to the address and found Mason in the back garden covered in petrol. He had threatened to kill the 11-year-old boy and kicked the door to his bedroom off its hinges.

Mason also had a conviction for trying to rob a petrol station cashier while armed with an imitation firearm, and a separate conviction for assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mr. Harrington said that some years ago, Mason had doused himself in petrol and set himself on fire while sitting in a car. He had suffered 45 per cent burns in what was an obvious suicide attempt.

Mr. Harrington also handed the judge victim impact statements made by Angelika Dries-Jenkins's three children.

He said he would not read them out in open court, but they 'made the heart weep'.

Mason, who had denied murder, showed no reaction at the verdict or the sentence.

His barrister, Chris Clee QC, said he could not argue against the 30 year minimum.

The jury had heard that Mason had probably tortured Angelika Dries-Jenkins to force her to reveal the pin number to her bank card and then killed her to avoid detection.

He was due to marry 10 days later and needed money. He stole her Skoda and drove into Haverfordwest. He spent the next week shopping in Haverfordwest, gambling and taking taxis to pubs.

He was arrested on June 7 while he and Ms Evans fished at Llysyfran reservoir.

Detective Superintendent Pam Kelly said after sentencing: "Angelica Dries-Jenkins was tortured for the PIN number of her bank account, she was murdered, her car stolen and her bank account emptied, but that was not enough for John Mason. He has put Angelica's family through a three-week murder trial, he has lied from start to finish and shown no remorse whatsoever.

"The verdict is welcomed, it reflects the strength of Angelica's family and is a credit to the members of the community who have come forward as witnesses. This has been achieved through the dedication of the prosecution team, in particular a small group of local Detectives from Pembrokeshire who have shown great dedication and tenacity in bringing John Mason to justice."

Detective Sergeant Paul Callard said: "This was a complex investigation, which included all facets of forensic and conventional policing techniques. Our small team worked diligently to bring Mason to justice and we are pleased with the verdict."

Family Statement

Following sentencing, the family of Angelica Dries-Jenkins said in a statement issued via Dyfed Powys Police: "To say that we are happy with the outcome would be wrong as nothing can alter the painful fact that our mother has been taken from us.

"Nevertheless, there is a sense of relief - that words cannot adequately describe - that the jury have found John Mason guilty of terrorising, murdering and, over the following days, continuing to steal from our mother.

"We are relieved and thankful, first and foremost, for our mother's sake - a gentle, peaceful lady who, ironically, was found dead in her yoga clothes. Secondly, for ourselves, for all those who knew and loved her, and for the communities of Narberth and the surrounding areas; John Mason, the person responsible for this horrific and cowardly act of violence has been prevented from inflicting such suffering on any other individual or family. John Mason has, through his actions, made victims not only of our mother and her family but, indeed, of those in the community. What he stole goes far beyond mere money.

"As a family, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Dyfed-Powys Police, to the Senior Investigating Officer, all her team and the prosecution - we are truly grateful. They have worked tirelessly in their pursuit of our mother's killer, and they have every reason to be proud of their part in the reaching of today's verdict. A special word of thanks must go to those officers who have supported our family so closely since the loss of our mother; she, too, would have hugely appreciated the sensitivity, warmth and humour with which they have dealt with all of us.

"We would also like to express our gratitude to the 12 members of the jury, who have displayed great dedication, patience and attentiveness throughout the difficult trial process and whose decision in an unenviable role will, hopefully, enable us, in some small way, to move forward.

"The loss of our mother continues to be felt keenly by all of us every day. Not least by my nephew, whose 18th birthday in four years' time will no longer be celebrated, as mamma had long hoped and joked, by her much-loved grandson buying his grandma a drink at the bar."