Neath man to serve at least 17 years for murder of 'vulnerable' girlfriend
Mathew Pickering has been sentenced at Swansea Crown Court
Last updated 5th Feb 2024
A man from Neath has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 17 and a half years for the murder of his on/off girlfriend.
A jury at Swansea Crown Court found 49 year old Mathew Pickering guilty of murder last week.
He had admitted the manslaughter of 46 year old Georgina Dowey but had denied murder.
Georgina's body was discovered by police in Pickering's bathroom at his home on Beaconsfield Street, Cadoxton on 7th May 2023.
Police say Georgina, who was considered to be vulnerable, was in a relationship with Pickering, and had moved into his address in March 2023.
Detective Inspector David Butt said: “This conviction represents justice being served for Georgina’s murder – at the hands of her own partner.
“The actions Mathew Pickering took in his attempt to get away with murder were partially caught on CCTV.
“Georgina was last seen alive on Friday 5th May. The murder took place either later that evening or during the early hours of the following morning.
“He spent approximately 40 hours covering his tracks while Georgina’s body lay on the floor of his downstairs toilet.
“On Saturday 6th May, he sent the following text to Georgina’s phone: ‘Did you make it to Merthyr ok? x’. He sent this text in full knowledge that her body was at his home.
“At 16:31 that afternoon, he went to the corner shop on his street to buy bleach. He would later claim that he purchased the bleach as “his cat was playing in the blood on the living room floor,” so he had to wipe it up.
“He also got rid of key evidence by placing items in bins in the local area, including items that were found in a dog waste bin. Georgina had two mobile phones - neither of which have been found – and it is believed that Mathew Pickering disposed of them.
“He made disclosures to family members about what he had done the following day.
"My thoughts remain with Georgina's family who are understandably devastated by what has happened.
"I would like to thank the local community and witnesses for the support they have provided to this investigation.”
South Wales Police says tackling domestic violence and violence against woman and girls is a clear priority for the force and the force is urging anyone who is suffering from domestic violence to come forward and speak to police.