A 20-STONE man who killed his best friend's mother by slitting her throat and trying to burn her body was sentenced to life last night.

Lee Robson, 20, told police he had no idea why he had murdered mother-of-three Pamela Cole after a night out last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mrs Cole had been celebrating her grandson's first birthday when Robson, who was her son's best friend, offered to walk her home.

The trio had been out in Horden, County Durham, before going back to Robson's house in Seventh Street, Peterlee.

Before Robson left to escort Mrs Cole home, he slid a kitchen knife down his trousers.

Prosecutor Paul Sloan, said: "He was going to kill her. The murder was

planned and premeditated."

As they walked through a park 6ft 5 inches tall Robson produced the knife and launched a frenzied attack. Mrs Cole's throat was cut and she was stabbed in the chest.

Robson followed up the attack by using a brick to hit her in the face. Then he calmly returned home to collect a bin bag and dog blanket.

He wrapped the bloodied body and set it alight, standing over it for 20 minutes smoking cigarettes.

When the body wouldn't burn he returned home again for a spade.

He was seen by police digging a hole near to the body and was arrested soon after.

Robson, who has no previous convictions, at first denied what he had done.

He later admitted the murder saying he had told Mrs Cole to stand still

before he stabbed her.

Mr Sloan said: "He said there was no reason for what he had done had he felt nothing when

he

did it."

Members of Mrs Cole's family shouted "Yes!" from the public gallery at

the life sentence handed down to her killer.

Judge David Hodgson said he must serve a minimum of 17 and-a-half years.

The judge added:

"Before you set off on that last journey you took the knife from the

kitchen and although you later said it was for protection, it was not.

"You cut her throat and she fell to the ground. While she was probably unconscious you stabbed her eight times and smashed her face to pieces with a brick."

Mitigating factors were that Robson pleaded guilty at the first reasonable opportunity.

Detective Superintendent Andy Reddick, who led the investigation, said: "I think it is an extraordinary case, in that it was a family friend and with no previous convictions. I am concerned for people in the future if he eventually gets released."