A man has been jailed for life after admitting the “barbaric” and “mediaeval” murder of a woman in Dyce – attacked as she was walking home from a night out.

23-year-old killer Rhys Bennett claimed not to recall launching the vicious attack on Jill Barclay shortly after midnight on Saturday, 17 September last year.

Appearing from custody, Bennett pled guilty to the murder and rape of Jill, who was 47-years-old and a mother of two, and also admitted defeating the ends of justice by fleeing the scene to his home in Ballingry, Fife.

The charges described how Bennett had struck Jill’s head against a down pipe and had inflicted blunt force trauma to her head and body – he also admitted raping her and setting fire to her body in a bid to destroy evidence. 

Prosecution KC Lorraine Glancy, told the court Miss Bennett had been on a night out in Aberdeen with a friend, Jennifer Sim, and they had caught the last train back to Dyce, arriving just before 11pm. The pair then headed to The Spider’s Web, for a drink.

Bennett, a fencing labourer working in the area for Scot Fast Ltd, was already in the pub drinking with three work colleagues.

KC Glancy said Jill Barclay had never met Bennett before, and CCTV cameras within the pub showed that she had spoken to Bennett and his companions – taking a cigarette from one of them.

Jennifer Sims went home just before 11.30pm, leaving Jill at the pub until it closed. CCTV showed her walking with Bennett and his work mates to the curb side of the Broomlea guest house on Victoria Street, where the men were staying. Jill had another cigarette with them and she started walking home alone at around 00:39.

The court was told that the CCTV footage clearly shows Bennett following Jill and at the traffic lights, beside the former Bank of Scotland building, they appear to talk. 

Bennett, who was wearing high-vis clothing can then be seen to overtake Jill, who now appears to be walking much more slowly. 

KC Glancy said it was “chillingly” obvious that Jill knew she was now being followed and she appeared “very anxious”.

At 00:51 they disappear from the view of the CCTV cameras.

At around that time a dog walker heard a female screaming “no, no, no” and thought it came from the direction of the derelict building – named Farburn Gate House – next to the roundabout at the Marriott Hotel.

Another resident, who lives behind the Marriott hotel, was said to have also heard a scream, but being unable to make out where it was coming from – put it down to late night revellers at the hotel.

The court heard that Jill had received a sustained and violent attack. Her clothing and underwear had been ripped off and Bennett had raped and assaulted her. Forensic evidence showed that she had been moving around and had been defending herself – Bennett’s DNA was found under her fingernails.

CCTV picks up Bennett again at 0227 when he is seen walking back to his guest house. Evidence of Jill’s blood was later found in the communal bathroom, as Bennett appears to have tried to clean himself up. 

He is then spotted getting into his work’s van at 0250 and drives back to the Gate House, where it appears he tried to move Jill’s body into the vehicle, but was unsuccessful.

The court heard that forensic evidence shows drag marks on the soil and further blood pattern analysis shows he carried out a “final assault” leaving her body where it lay.

Bennett, the court was told, had then decided to destroy Jill’s body by dosing her in petrol. He placed her clothing and other items of hers under her body, and set her alight. CCTV footage shows an explosive fire at 0311. Bennett then drives away towards the Aberdeen Bypass.

His phone records show that he stopped off in a layby near Stonehaven to send texts – and had been asking work colleagues if he had left his earplugs behind. The earplugs were later found at Farburn Gatehouse. He also messaged to tell them he was going home.

Meanwhile, an off-duty police officer saw flames at the Gatehouse and phoned 999, not thinking she had to wait for them to arrive, she drove home. The fire service attended at 0324 and discovered Jill Barclay’s body on fire and paramedics quickly arrived who found her injuries were “incompatible with life”.

Jill’s partner of 20 years, Leon Grant contacted the police on the Saturday morning after she failed to return home and reported her missing. The court heard that he was later shown photos of Jill’s tattoos, being the only way she could be identified because her body was so badly damaged.

Officers were able to follow the tracking device within the van Bennett was driving and arrested him later that day at his home address in Martin Crescent, Ballingry. They found newly washed clothes hanging out on the line to dry.

KC Glancy said that pathologists had concluded that Jill had still been alive when she had been set alight as she had inhaled hot ashes and soot. She said Jill’s body also had evidence of neck compressions, skull fractures and defensive wounds, adding: “Her alcohol intake had possibly hindered her ability to self-rescue.”

Bennett sat impassively in the dock as the evidence was read out, showing no emotion.

His defence counsel Mr McSporran KC said Bennett was apologetic and had “no recollection” of what happened or why. He explained that Bennett had been recently diagnosed as having an Autistic Spectrum Disorder and asked that his sentence be that for a “young man” he would have the possibility of one day seeing “light at the end of the tunnel”.

On passing sentence, Lord Arthurson said the attack on Miss Barclay had been “feral” in its violence and although accepting that Bennett had admitted to the atrocity, thus avoiding the stress of a trial upon the family. He said: ““She was a stranger to you. You followed her. And you waited or hid yourself from view.

“You then proceeded to launch a murderous attack upon her, an attack which, upon carefully reconstructed evidence available, plainly involved extreme, sustained and frankly feral violence inflicted on her by you.

“Your offence is with exceptional gravity. This was the most unimaginably wicked act and indeed mediaeval in its barbarity.

“Evidence suggests she was still alive when the accelerant and clothing was placed on her. So let’s be clear –  you burnt her alive.”

He handed out a life sentence to Bennett, who must serve a minimum of 24 years before being able to apply for release. He was also placed on the sex offenders register.