Life in jail for man who admitted murdering woman

A man has been jailed for life for the murder of a woman in a violent attack in Leeds last year.

Colleen Westerman, 62, suffered "multiple injuries" when she was assaulted by John Bootland at an address in Melville Gardens in Woodhouse on 6 November, police said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and Bootland, 57, of no fixed abode, was charged with her murder two days later.

He pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court in January and was sentenced at the same court on Wednesday to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years.

Officers had initially been called to the property following reports of a disturbance, according to West Yorkshire Police.

During sentencing, the court heard statements from the victim's family.

One family member said that Bootland had "not only robbed my mum of her life, but you have robbed us of our mum, my grandma of her daughter and my daughter of having a grandma to watch and cherish her growing up".

Another family member told Bootland he had been "selfish in your actions", adding that they had "well and truly lost my smile" as a result of his actions.

"I don't know who I am and I don't know if I will find myself again," they said.

A third statement from the family added: "My mother's legacy will live on forever in the people who really loved her, whereas you will be forgotten."

Following sentencing, Det Insp Tom Hilyer, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said Bootland's guilty plea had prevented the family from having to "endure the further distress of a trial".

"But it doesn't bring her back, nor excuse what Colleen endured on that evening in November," he said.

"I hope today's outcome reflects the seriousness of his callous actions, and it also provides some measure of comfort to the family that a level of justice has been served."

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