Family jailed over man's 'depraved' torture and death

The torture and death of a man whose headless body was dumped in a lake was branded “depraved” by a judge today as he sentenced six members of the same family.

Judge John Bevan QC made the comments at Luton Crown Court as he jailed three members of the Watt family for life for murdering Michael Gilbert and three others for familial homicide.

The 26-year-old was kept as a slave and tortured for his benefit money before being killed. His headless body was dumped in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, last year.

James Watt, 27, his girlfriend, Natasha Oldfield, 29, and his brother Richard’s girlfriend, Nichola Roberts, 22, were jailed for life for murder today.

Watt will serve a minimum of 36 years, Oldfield a minimum of 18 and Roberts a minimum of 15.

James’s brother, Robert Watt, 20, and his mother, Jennifer Smith-Dennis, 58, were jailed for eight years and 10 years respectively for familial homicide.

A third brother, Richard Watt, 25, who previously pleaded guilty to familial homicide was sentenced to six years in prison.

James, Robert and Richard Watt had pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and, on Friday, Roberts, Oldfield and Smith-Dennis were convicted by the jury.

James Watt was heard to say “Cheers” to the judge as he was sent down today.

During the trial, the court heard that Mr Gilbert was kept as a slave and tortured for his benefit money by members of the family at their home in Luton.

Detectives believe he died overnight between January 21 and 22 last year as a result of the abuse he had suffered.

His body was dismembered and dumped in the Blue Lagoon in Arlesey, where it was discovered in May last year.

Mr Gilbert’s knee joints, forearm and elbow were missing, as well as his head, although his torso and some other body parts were present. His head was not discovered until February this year.

During the trial, the jury heard that “vulnerable” Mr Gilbert, who met James Watt at a children’s home when they were 15, was treated as a slave by the family.

Police said he was “adopted” by them many years before his death and regularly assaulted and threatened.

The court heard he was hit with bats, shot, stabbed and made to walk around the house in only his boxer shorts.

On one occasion he was made to goad a large pet lizard until it attacked him with its tail.

Oldfield’s diary included plans for a game show where contestants would pay £5 to slap him and £25 to headbutt him.

The 26-year-old escaped several times but they would find him and force him back – James Watt using his National Insurance number to pose as him and track him down.