A ‘DEVIOUS and manipulative’ man has been jailed for 19 years for murdering his partner at her home in Howley.

William Smart, 55, left Angela Craddock with more than 100 different injuries after punching, biting, kicking and stamping on her at the flat on St Elphin’s Close on Tuesday, April 10, this year.

He also attacked the 40-year-old with a guitar and stabbed her with a broken drumstick.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Smart was found guilty of her murder at Liverpool Crown Court by a jury – who reached a majority verdict of 10 to two after 11 hours and four minutes of deliberations.

And today, Wednesday, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 19 years behind bars by judge Neil Flewitt.

Sentencing, judge Flewitt said: “You subjected Angela Craddock to a sustained and repeated attack, from which she must have suffered terribly.

“You have shown no remorse for what you have done, and your actions have been motivated by self-interest throughout.

“She was a slight and vulnerable woman, who suffered from alcohol dependency and mental health problems but she was working hard to get her life back on track.

“Her death has left a void in the family – her mother, brother and sister have all spoken of her caring and generous nature and her compassion for others.

“You too were the beneficiary of her kindness after she took you in following your release from prison, but your response was to beat her to death in an act of extreme and gratuitous violence.

“I must impose imprisonment for life.”

RECAP: William Smart sentenced for murdering Angela Craddock in 'sustained and frenzied' attack

Timeline of a murder: How Angela Craddock was killed

Detective: 'I have never come across a case of such brutality'

The mind of a killer: How William Smart became a murderer

Tribute: Family say Angela Craddock was 'beautiful and kind'

The court heard that the pair formed a relationship after they were ‘brought together by a shared interest in alcohol and a need for company’.

Only seven days before murdering Ms Craddock, Smart had been released from prison after being sentenced to six months behind bars for assaulting her and threatening her with a knife the previous September.

He breached his bail conditions a number of times between committing this offence and being jailed in February, with Ms Craddock reporting to police and hospital staff that she was afraid of the man who would become her killer.

Smart threatened to kill his partner in November, giving her a black eye and broken rib.

After being released from prison on Tuesday, April 10, he ‘directly’ made his way to Ms Craddock’s home – ignoring bail conditions and the terms of his release.

Judge Flewitt added: “This decision would have fatal consequences for Angela Craddock.

“There must have been times where you were happy together, but your relationship was punctuated by the threat and use of physical violence.

“You were the violent one, and she was frightened of you.

“On April 5, you visited a florists – but you had a more sinister motive, indicative of your devious and manipulative nature.”

On the day of Ms Craddock’s murder, she and Smart drank two bottles of wine, vodka and whisky that she had bought from Sainsbury’s on Church Street.

She was last seen on CCTV at the supermarket, captured leaving the store at around 6.30pm.

Judge Flewitt said: “Some time between then and when you were later seen on Manchester Road, you attacked her and killed her.

“We will never know why you assaulted Angela Craddock – she did nothing to provoke you or give you any reason to use violence against her.

“The reality is that you are a violent man, especially when you have been drinking.

“On this occasion, the violence was relentless and unrestrained – the attack began in the bedroom, where you struck her with a guitar and pulled out a clump of her hair.

“You continued to assault her throughout the flat – you repeatedly punched and kicked her, bit her and stabbed her with a broke drumstick.

“Afterwards, you cut off her vest, bra and knickers before covering her with a blanket and making a half-hearted attempt to clean her body.

“But you made no attempt to seek help for her, and left the flat to get food and more alcohol.”

Ms Craddock could not be formally identified by her family due to the extent of her facial injuries, and instead had to be identified by her fingerprints.

After his arrest, Smart was made repeated abusive remarks about the woman he had killed – describing her as a ‘rat’ and that he hoped she would die.

Judge Flewitt added: “This was a sustained, repeated and brutal assault and she must have suffered terribly – you demeaned her by removing her clothes and abandoning her naked body.

“I can’t be sure that you intended to kill Angela Craddock, but the severity of the assault means that there was an obvious risk of death.

“You have shown no remorse, and are interested only in yourself.”