WILLIAM Smart is a man who knew he could hurt Angela Craddock.

This was the description used in prosecutor Anne Whyte's closing submission to highlight how the 55-year-old emotionally and physically abused his victim before her violent death.

Dressed in a grey jumper and tracksuit bottoms, Smart showed little emotion throughout the trial, only appearing upset when being questioned in the dock.

He has a full head of dark hair and seemed alert to evidence being read out.

The 55-year-old was tearful when being pressed by prosecutor Anne Whyte, saying "I never meant for this to happen," but then quickly became aggressive towards the female barrister when she repeated her question, telling her to 'stop being a typical woman'.

Smart grew up in Huyton with his siblings and parents and worked as a plasterer.

After his dad died five years ago, Smart was given his share of the will.

He told the court his dad was a successful businessman in Liverpool and had many properties which were then sold after his death and divided between the children.

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Smart could not be trusted with the money, the court was told, and so it was placed in a trust fund that he could access.

When questioned by his defence barrister Patrick Harrington, Smart said he started drinking heavily in his 30s and continues to drink 'three or four cans a day'.

He cannot be sure the exact time he moved to Warrington but told the court it was 'around 2013' after an altercation about a stolen television in Liverpool.

Warrington Guardian:

William Smart

At the advice of the Salvation Army, he moved to James Lee House in Warrington town centre.

He told the court he had spent a lot of his life in hostels, never staying more than a few months in each – often he was thrown out.

Smart moved from James Lee House to the YMCA on Winmarleigh Street and stayed there for a number of months before he met Angela Craddock 'around 2016' in Bank Park.

Smart said: "I was talking to her by the fountain in the town centre and saw her by Bank Park a couple of times."

The pair struck up a friendship after Smart, who said he enjoyed taking part in art classes run by James Lee House, invited Angela to take part in one with him.

They exchanged phone numbers and went for coffee in Sainsbury's on Church Street before developing a relationship.

Smart stayed over as frequently as he could at Ms Craddock's flat in St Elphin's Close without losing his place at the YMCA.

When giving evidence last week, Smart behaved strangely, often getting lost in his answers and going off on tangents.

He convinced himself that Ms Craddock was 'in with the police' and had the police 'watching him' but then insisted 'she didn't do anything to deserve' being killed by him.

On Tuesday, the jury found Smart guilty of murdering Angela Craddock - he did not react when the verdict was read out.

Today, Wednesday, he was once again brought into the courtroom to hear the minimum term he must serve.

As Judge Flewitt detailed some of the horrific injuries Smart inflicted on Ms Craddock, the defendant looked to the ground.

He nodded slowly in agreement as it was stated how the relationship, at times, was a happy one.

However, when the judge mentioned the cutting up of clothes and how Smart left her body under a blanket, Smart shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Nicholas Walker, who represented Smart in today's sentencing, read out the results of a recent psychiatric report which stated Smart suffers from acute polymorphic psychotic disorder but Judge Flewitt asserted that this was not sufficient enough to blame an episode of psychosis on the brutal assault.

As Smart listened to the minimum 19-year sentence imposed, he did not react and was led away to the cells.

Judge Flewitt condemned Smart as a 'devious and manipulative' man who showed no remorse for what he has done.