Timeline of a murder: How Angela Craddock was killed

We look at what happened in the days, weeks and months before her death.

September 30, 2017

Smart bangs Ms Craddock’s head against a wall at her home before picking up a knife and waving at her.

He is arrested and bailed on the condition that he does not contact Ms Craddock, but breaks these terms on several occasions.

READ > Family pay tribute to 'beautiful and kind' Angela Craddock after sentencing 

November 2, 2017

Police attend the property, where Smart is present.

Both he and Ms Craddock are described as being drunk, with the latter claiming that her partner had assaulted her.

She is seen to have a cut above her eye.

Later in the month Ms Craddock reports that Smart kicked her in the ribs and punched her in the face, causing bruising.

December 10, 2017

Police attend Sainsbury’s on Church Street after Smart had acted abusively towards Ms Craddock in the supermarket, calling her a ‘f***ing slut’.

He later admits a public order offence.

December 14, 2017

Ms Craddock attends Warrington Police Station and tells officers that Smart had continued to contact her, and that she was afraid of him.

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

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Sentencing: William Smart jailed for 19 years for murder of Angela Craddock

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February 19, 2018

Smart is jailed for five months at Warrington Magistrates' Court after admitting battery against Ms Craddock, related to the incident on September 30.

He is also issued with a restraining order not to contact Ms Craddock or enter St Elphin’s Close until February 18 2019.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Smart is released from prison and sees a friend at Central Station, telling him that he Ms Craddock had ‘put him there’ and was unsure whether to return to her home.

The friend suggests that Smart should stay at a night shelter, but the prosecution believe he went ‘directly or very quickly’ to Ms Craddock’s address.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Smart withdraws £200 from his Nationwide bank account and £80 from a Post Office account.

He visited Hatters Bloom, a florists on Hatters Row in the town centre, where his behaviour is reportedly ‘erratic and offensive’.

The defendant purchased a bouquet of flowers for £30, to be delivered to Ms Craddock’s home.

Smart tells staff that his name is Dolph Lundgren before ‘running around with his fists clenched like a boxer’, apparently in reference to the Rocky films.

He tells staff that he had ‘just got out of a 10-year prison stretch for using a knife’ and requested that they write only a question mark on the card with the flowers.

His conduct causes employees to call security, and Smart begins practicing karate moves before leaving the shop.

Friday, April 6, 2018

Smart withdraws the remainder of the money in his Nationwide account - £1,300 – at 12.25pm, effectively closing the account.

The florists is informed that the delivery of the bouquet was unsuccessful, and Smart returns to the shop.

His conduct is described as ‘unusual and aggressive’, and he describes Ms Craddock as a ‘quiet mouse who probably wouldn’t open the door’.

She later takes delivery of the flowers from a taxi driver.

Tuesday, April 10 2018

Ms Craddock visited Sainsbury’s on Church Street several times at 7.45am, 10am, 5.30pm and 6pm.

She buys items including a curry sauce, toilet paper, ibuprofen, wine, milk, chocolate, fluffy Easter chicks, polystyrene eggs, vodka and a CD of the Cranberries’ Dreams – and is last sighted on CCTV leaving the supermarket at 6.34pm.

During the day, neighbours hear sounds of arguments – with Ms Craddock and a man both shouting ‘leave me alone’.

Neighbours also describe hearing ‘animal noises’, a man and a woman singing and drumming.

Ms Craddock is killed at some point between 6.34pm and 9.40pm.

21.45pm

An off-duty police officer sees Smart on Salisbury Street ‘drunk and staggering’.

He was ‘very vocal’, making loud wailing noises and crying.

21.53pm

Smart enters the Greenwood Fryery on Marsh House Lane in Padgate with his face covered in blood and appearing distressed.

He tells takeaway staff that he had ‘had an argument with his missus’, and left the premises screaming and shouting after buying food.

A Marsh House Lane resident sees Smart ‘screaming and agitated’ before throwing chip paper into her front garden.

Around 10pm

Smart enters Bargain Booze on Marsh House Lane with blood on his face, appearing to be drunk.

Witnesses report that his hands ‘look as though they had been dipped in blood’, with his white trainers also covered in blood.

When buying alcohol from the shop, Smart says: “My missus attacked me – she does this all the time.

“I think she’s on the floor dead.”

An off-duty special sergeant sees Smart outside the premises ‘shouting and gesturing’.

Smart tells the officer that he had a nose bleed and that he ‘just wanted to go to the pub and be left alone’, before walking away.

He then goes to the Anika Indian Takeaway on Marsh House Lane, where he is reportedly abusive to staff.

10.21pm

Smart enters the Famous King and Queen pub on Padgate Lane carrying a rucksack and appearing ‘spaced out and drunk’.

Staff refuse to serve him, and he cleans the blood from his face in the toilets.

10.37pm

Smart enters the Co-op on Padgate Lane and asks to buy rum, but staff refuse to serve him.

Around 10.40pm

After police carry out database checks following Smart’s encounter with the special sergeant at Bargain Booze, police arrive at Ms Craddock’s home on St Elphin’s Close.

The light are on, but officers receive no response.

They are able to open the door and walk in.

Ms Craddock is found on the floor of the living room – prone on her back, naked and covered by a blanket.

A ‘large amount of blood and vomit’ is seen coming from her mouth, and she has ‘extensive facial injuries’.

10.53pm

Smart is spotted by police on Padgate Lane and arrested, before being taken to a custody suite in Runcorn.

He says: “She’s a rat, nothing but a rat.

“I hope she dies anyway, is she dead?

“She f***ing better had be, because it won’t be long before she f***ing is.

“I f***ng killed her – I don’t give a f***, I hope she’s dead.

“Not guilty – I walk free.

“I didn’t kill her, I hope she’s dead.

“It’s a good job I didn’t have an axe with me at the time, because I’d have took her f***ing head off.

“Is she dead?

“I’ve got rid of a f***ing rat – I feel terrible, f***ing terrible for getting rid of a f***ing rat.

“Is it dead?

“Have I killed it?

“Have I killed a f***ing rat?

“I’m f***ing proud of myself.”

Smart says that he is ‘guilty of being a rat killer’ adding: “I love finding rats and killing them.

“I like hunting down little rats, usually I like shooting them but there are no guns anymore are there?

“I feel terrible – I still love her, I still love her.”

11.40pm

Ms Craddock is pronounced dead after being transferred to Warrington Hospital.

11.49pm

Smart is informed of Ms Craddock’s death.

He says: “No, no – I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

“Ok, I’m guilty then aren’t I?

“My Angela’s dead, my baby’s dead.”

He again calls her a ‘f***ing rat’, before adding: “No, no – I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.

“Angela, please – I f***ing love you, I love you.”