THOUSANDS of households on certain benefits will no longer qualify for this year’s £300 winter fuel payment.
However, those who have active claims for at least one of seven benefits will still get the cash.
The winter fuel payment was previously available to everyone over the state pension age (66).
However, changes by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that around 10million pensioners will no longer receive the benefit.
Now, the payment is limited to retirees on pension credit or those receiving certain six other means-tested benefits.
These include Universal Credit, employment and support allowance (ESA), jobseeker’s allowance (JSA), income support, child tax credit and working tax credit.
You can check that you are actively receiving these benefits, by looking out for relevant codes on your bank statement.
If you are over the state pension age and have received any of the following payment references on your statement, you are likely eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment.
Households that receive tax credits are paid by HMRC and these will show the following references on your bank statement:
To be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment, you must have an active claim for the benefits mentioned above during the “qualifying week,” which runs from 16 to 22 September (this week).
Most households automatically receive the winter fuel payment, including those on pension credit.
However, 760,000 households are thought to be missing out on pension credit, which unlocks their eligibility for this year’s winter fuel payment.
Thousands of Sun readers flooded our Winter Fuel SOS helpline on Wednesday, looking for help to hang on to the payment.
Figures from the DWP show that 65% of those entitled to pension credit claimed it in 2023, up from 63% in 2022.
New claims for pension credit can be backdated by up to three months.
This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is December 21.
Of course, if you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s £300 payment.
PENSION credit tops up your weekly income to £218.15 if you are single or to £332.95 if you have a partner.
This is known as “guarantee credit”.
If your income is lower than this, you’re very likely to be eligible for the benefit.
However, if your income is slightly higher, you might still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability, you care for someone, you have savings or you have housing costs.
You may get extra amounts if you have other responsibilities and costs.
Pension credit opens the door to lots of other benefits such as the warm home discount scheme, support for mortgage interest, council tax discounts, free TV licences once you’re over 75, and help with NHS costs.
To qualify, you need to be over state pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales.
If you have a partner, you need to include them on your claim.
You can start your application up to four months before you reach state pension age.
Find out more by visiting gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.
Those claiming housing benefit without pension credit will not be due this year’s winter fuel payment.
Housing benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.
Only those over the state pension age can put in a new claim.
Households that only claim council tax reduction will also not qualify for a winter fuel payment.
Also known as council tax support, the benefit is designed to help individuals on low incomes or certain benefits reduce the amount of council tax they need to pay.
State pensioners who claim child benefit to supplement their income while fostering or raising a child under 20 will also not qualify for a winter fuel payment.
Child benefit provides regular payments to parents or guardians to assist with the costs associated with raising children.
It is designed to help cover expenses such as food, clothing, and other essential needs.
However, it’s important to note that these households may still be eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment if they also claim a qualifying benefit.
Even if you are found to be claiming an eligible benefit during the qualifying week, some households may still be ineligible for the winter fuel payment.
You will not be eligible if you:
However, you can get a winter fuel payment if you have lived in a care home for less than 13 weeks, including the week of September 16-22, 2024.
PAYMENTS last year were worth between £300 and £600, depending on your specific circumstances.
This is because the amount included a “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” – between £150 and £300.
This year, it will be worth £200 for eligible households or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80.
That means you could receive up to £300 in free cash depending on your circumstances.
Most payments are made automatically in November or December.
You’ll get a letter telling you:
If you do not get a letter or the money has not been paid into your account by January 29, 2025, you must contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160.
You’ll know when you’ve been paid once you see a payment with a reference that contains your National Insurance number plus “DWP WFP”.
NEIGHBOURS are at war over a “Grand Designs”-style home which is said to be an “eyesore” and has been compared to a pile of “shipping containers”.
The property – in a historic stockbroker town in the Home Counties – was constructed on a road where homes sell for more than £1million.
Plans to build the home were initially approved in 2017 but the landowner made it two metres too high, located it in the wrong place on the plot of land and clad it in a plastic material rather than natural stone and oak.
After an outcry from residents, last year the local council imposed a demolition order on the house.
But now they’ve performed a U turn and – to the fury of many – allowed it to stay in place as long as it is returned to the originally agreed design.
Developer Peter Strange was given permission by Waverley Borough Council to build the home in Farnham, Surrey, seven years ago.
The original planning permission was for an “innovative cantilever design”, which would nestle into the woodland backdrop of the steep hillside plot.
The house is positioned just up the road from the Bourne Woods – a location used for the filming of blockbusters such as Napoleon, Gladiator and Harry Potter.
However, the finished building – which appears to be currently unoccupied – was out of line with the submitted plans.
The house was built six metres further to the south than planned, rotated approximately ten degrees from the consented dwelling, and was two metres higher than planned.
And, despite natural stone and oak cladding used in the plans – neighbours said a plastic material was used instead which “radically” changed the appearance.
After the landowner was threatened with enforcement action, Mr Strange – who bought the land in March 2018 for £450,000 – applied for retrospective planning permission for the new home.
This application received over 170 objections from locals who cited a variety of complaints.
One objector, Kevin Lester, wrote that it was an “ugly building” which is “far too big” and “imposing”.
“As it is, it looks like a number of Grey Shipping Containers have just been dumped on site, stacked and bolted together,” he said.
The application was not approved and an appeal was later dismissed with an enforcement order for demolition issued.
Last year, Mr Strange sought permission for the “erection of a dwelling with associated works following demolition of original dwelling”.
This application attracted further objection from residents who questioned why they were having to protest the plans again.
Nearby resident Paul Webb branded the situation a “carbuncle” and said the house was “completely out of character” when compared to the neighbouring properties.
As it is, it looks like a number of Grey Shipping Containers have just been dumped on site, stacked and bolted together
Kevin Lester
“The dreadful abuse then carried out by the developers, flouting the Council’s permission and attempting to foist the ‘shipping container’ house in our beautiful area of Farnham was rightly reversed with the demolition order, and it is impossible to believe that the miscreants even have a right of appeal?”
Mr Webb stated the planning process “risks falling into farce” unless the council sends a “clear signal” to developers that “they must abide by the law”.
Despite further push back from neighbours, the council have upheld part of the landowner’s appeal, meaning the property can stay up as long as changes are made in the next 12 months.
Noel Moss chairs the Bourne Conservation group and has lived in Farnham for 10 years.
The 88-year-old said the property is a “blot on the landscape”, adding: “What was built there, as an architectural design, is completely out of keeping with other buildings in the area – for example, the nice cottage opposite.
“With my conservation hat on, it is also taking up character of the very nice green space which faces you as you drive into Farnham from the South – that was always a very nice view.”
Mr Moss, who served in the Army for 30 years, said the site was also a ‘very important foraging area for bats”.
“What I think none of us can understand, is how the planning authority – who would also be aware of the character of the area – allowed such a design to go through, and secondly, didn’t check what was being built,” he continued.
“I don’t think the planning authority at Waverley are exempt from criticism on this matter.”
On the update to the plans, he said: “No one, including the planning committee, understands the present situation.
“My view, and the view of other neighbours I talk to, is that they can’t understand if it needs to be demolished.”
Everyone has to stick to the planning law
Louisa Bristow
Jewellery designer Louisa Bristow also lives near the house and admitted she didn’t “mind” what it looked like as it was “a little bit different”, which she welcomed.
But, the 46-year-old said “everyone has to stick to the planning law”, adding: “The rules are they for a reason and we need to follow them.
“Most people live and left live, some people are very vocal – we just don’t want people to take the mick.”
Jamie Dobse, 52, also lives near the property – and admitted he quite liked the “modern” appearance of it.
“I think it’s a shame it’s not occupied now,” he said of the property, “It wasn’t built as it was designed. I think as it was being built, it seemed quite obvious that it wasn’t how it was agreed.
“It seemed quite obviously different to the proposal.”
Mr Dobse, who works as a designer, said it would be “incredibly wasteful” to demolish the “contemporary” house.
“We need more housing,” he added.
Upholding part of the appeal, the planning inspector said: “As revised, the dwelling would nestle comfortably in the woodland setting in local views, retaining the informal rural character and well-wooded appearance of the locality.
“Owing to its greater overall height the permitted dwelling would have been a more visible built feature, even though set back further into the wooded hillside at a slightly different angle.
“Consequently, the revised dwelling would not appear as a prominent built feature in the surroundings, the immediate setting being largely dominated by maturing trees consistent with the visual qualities of the Arcadian Area.”
The Sun Online has contacted Waverley Borough Council for comment.
The Sun Online has attempted to track down Mr Strange for comment.
IT seems that whatever Nintendo does, it’s bound to be a roaring success as just the mention of Mario will see players’ ears prick up.
We saw this recently when Nintendo announced a new piece of hardware after months of teasing more information about the Switch 2.
Despite people’s obvious disappointment that it was an alarm clock that plays gunfire as you wake up rather than a Switch successor, the Alarmo still sold out in minutes.
It’s not the only Nintendo product that disappeared within moments of its release as Nintendo’s latest sign-up also filled up fast.
Nintendo recently announced a mystery Switch playtest that would allow up to 10k Nintendo fans a chance to play new software before it is released.
While there was little information about what the playtest would include, people were still eager to get involved.
The one catch is that participants had to be subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service before the playtests announcement was made.
This was to prevent people from subscribing specifically so that they could take part in the playtest.
The requirement also means that there is a greater chance to prevent bots from signing up before real people have a chance to register.
Despite the restrictions put in place, thousands still missed out on the opportunity to enter the playtest.
All 10k places were allocated within seconds of the registration opening, with most players not even getting a chance to participate.
Those who were successful in signing up reported that following admittance to the playtest programme they were told that the download would be 2.2GB.
This has led many Nintendo fans to question what exactly they will be downloading for the test.
As the playtest is only for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack users, many believed that it would be new software to be included with the premium subscription.
However, it is unlikely to be a DLC pack for an existing game, like those for Mario Kart 8 or Animal Crossing, as it did not ask participants if they own a particular game.
The leading theory is that it is a test for GameCube games which could be added to the subscription service in the future.
If you want to read more about Nintendo, check out the latest games with Nintendo Switch Online.
Get the lowdown on more of the latest Nintendo Switch releases from our expert reviewers.
For Xbox Series X and PS5 reviews, check out our full game reviews section.
HALLOWEEN is almost here, and most live-service games are celebrating with big, spooky events for all of their players.
Fortnite is no different, and with patch version 31.40 coming soon, the game’s big Halloween event is about to kick off.
While the patch was expected to be released today, a last minute delay has seen it pushed to tomorrow instead, with the reasons for the delay unclear at this point.
Still, despite the short delay, the Halloween event for Fortnite looks to include a lot for fans to sink their fangs into.
It’s called Fortnitemares 2024, and it introduces a host of spooky weapons, skins for Nightmare Before Christmas and Disney Villains, and more.
Fortnitemares introduces the chainsaw from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, offering a powerful melee attack, in addition to a Saw-themed homing explosive and the usual Pumpkin Launcher reskin.
Nightmare Before Christmas skins, including Jack in his Pumpkin King garb and Sally are available in both regular and Lego styles, rounding out the biggest characters from the classic film.
That’s in addition to even more Disney Villain skins, including Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent, as well as a few more spooky skins like Edward Scissorhands.
Disney and Fortnite have a major partnership to bring Disney content to the massive game, with Marvel, Star Wars, and more Disney Villains set to come in the coming months and years.
Lego Fortnite gets a bit of love in the new update, too, with one feature in particular being a great new addition for families.
Players on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S will now be able to play Lego Fortnite in split-screen multiplayer on one console.
Up to two players can play at the same time, and there are no restrictions for what players can do.
Lego Fortnite is also getting a new Lego Pass, which gives a bunch of quests to complete, allowing players to earn free and premium decorations and builds.
The pass also offers a new Andy Fangerson skin, which is a bright pink werewolf wearing typical high school jock clothing.
The event comes shortly after Fortnite returned to iPhones for some players, with Epic launching its own app store on iOS in the EU earlier this year.
The move was the result of a lengthy legal battle with Apple, where the company tried to avoid paying Apple’s cut of in-game purchases.
Unfortunately, the ruling ultimately applied only to the EU, so players outside of the EU who want to play Fortnite on their iPhones have to do so through the Xbox Game Pass app instead.
Fortnite also introduced new parental controls features earlier this month, rolling out a host of additions that let parents minimise and monitor their children’s play time.
For more on Epic Games and Fortnite, check out how Epic plans to offer free games for mobile players in the future.
Get the lowdown on more of the latest Xbox releases from our expert reviewers.
For PS5 and Nintendo Switch, check out our full game reviews section.
IT’S no secret that buying a home is getting more and more expensive.
Because of rising costs, many people are opting for tiny homes instead – and you can buy this one directly from Walmart.
The stylish pad will set you back $8,834 when purchased online, and it looks just as charming as you’d expect a pinewood tiny home to look.
The Best Barns Pinewood pad is spacious enough to fit all the essentials inside at 16X14ft.
The building features classic swing doors and windows for that timeless cosy look.
The exterior panelling can be painted any colour too, so you can really make it your own.
Although the building has no reviews online yet, it looks like the pad would be the perfect spot to come home to after a long day.
There’s even two second floor lofts, one on either end of the build, so there’s plenty of room for storage too.
That said, potential buyers should note that stairs and ladder to lofts are not included.
The bargain buy isn’t the only tiny home you can buy online right now either.
Earlier this year Walmart shoppers spotted another kit you can get your hands on with just a little extra work required.
The product, listed as the Handy Home Products Beachwood Wood Storage Shed, can also double as a tiny home or a shed, depending on consumer preference.
With it being DIY, instead of hiring builders and contractors to come in and craft the home, Walmart shoppers will only pay $2,499 for the kit, along with subsequent delivery fees and other miscellaneous expenses.
It features 64-inch double doors and 7-inch side walls, along with a full-sized window and two smaller windows attached to the top of the doors, according to the product description.
The seller, Handy Home Products, stressed that the added windows “keep the interior well-lit” whenever needed.
Weather-resistant siding also comes with the $2,500 kit, along with a 15-year warranty should it fail for any reason.
Those who purchase the tiny home kit shouldn’t have any trouble putting it together in the location they choose, as it only “requires basic skills and household tools for assembly.”
Handy Home Products claimed that the entire project could be completed in a weekend with the correct set-up.
All the included items in the kit are pre-cut to the necessary measurements.
“With no measuring, no cutting, and user-friendly instructions, this will prove to be an enjoyable DIY weekend project,” the description noted.
The kit was made in the United States, and the entire design offers a 10-year warranty along with Walmart’s Free 60-day returns policy.
The tiny home kit is also completely customizable once finished as far as exterior and interior colors are concerned.
Paint and shingles can be bought separately and used to create the aesthetic finishes customers desire.
Technically, a tiny home is any house measuring under 400 square feet.
Many tiny homes are built on trailers so they can be towed anywhere, and some are converted from old school buses or vans.
Each state has its own rules about tiny homes, but, generally, they are not subject to the same taxes as regular homes.
However, Alaska, Iowa, Louisiana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, and West Virginia have made tiny homes illegal as permanent dwellings.
THIS is the horrifying moment a mum discovers a massive wolf spider devouring a mouse on her doorstep.
Meagen Wallace was taking her three-year-old son Jameson to pre-school when she opened the front door to the “absolutely insane” scene.
Opening the front door, they faced one of the largest spider types in the US, with an unusual victim in its jaws.
Meagan said: “At first glance I thought it was a piece of dog poop and was irritated that a neighbour would allow that to happen and not clean it up.
“But once I got closer I realised it was moving slightly, and I immediately but calmly instructed my son to take a step back, as he was about to unknowingly step on it.
“Once assured my son was behind me, I inspected it and realised that it was in fact a mostly-dead mouse with a massive wolf spider on top eating its head.
“There were little clumps of mouse fur all around, like there had been some sort of struggle beforehand.”
Texas arachnologist Ashley Wahlberg, known as the “Spider Lady”, said it was a wolf spider of the hogna genus – among the largest found in the US.
Ashley, who teaches at Angelina College in Lufkin, said the spider could be scavenging another animal’s kill, but had most likely killed the mouse itself.
She said: “Wolf spiders are active predators so it is likely the spider killed the mouse itself rather than scavenging, but without seeing the interaction take place we can never really know.
“It is unusual for a spider to take down prey this large, but it’s seen often enough among the larger spiders.
“However, most reports of spiders feeding on vertebrates are with orbweavers and widows.
“Both of these have their webbing that the prey initially gets caught in, then they use their venom to finish it off.
“Wolf spiders make webbing but they don’t hunt with webbing, therefore it would just be relying on its strength, quickness, and venom to take down prey.”
The frightful scene was, she said, “a very neat observation”.
But fear came before fascination for Meagen and her son.
She said: “My initial reaction was disbelief and horrified awe.
“I’ve worked very hard to not be as afraid of spiders as I once was as a child, but this definitely caught me off guard.
“I knew my son was right behind me so I swallowed my first reaction and switched to curiosity, so I could show him how cool this absolutely insane event is.
“Internally I was freaking out but kept it together for my kiddo.”
An environmental scientist, Meagen said it was unlike anything she’d seen before.
She said: “I’ve travelled all over the world doing research and field work in remote jungles and forests.
“I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff, but never in my life have I seen this – I honestly didn’t even know wolf spiders ate things like rodents!
“I have seen them eat every insect under the sun but watching it consume this mouse that was much larger than itself was definitely one for the record books.”
After taking some pictures and video, Meagen, from Austin, Texas, let nature take its course.
She joked: “I had no clue what to even do about it, and part of me was hoping that the spider would remember my kindness and choose not to come after me now that it’s had a taste of flesh.”
For little Jameson, it was an exciting encounter to tell his whole class about, and in the end, it was a learning experience for Meagan too.
She said: “I learned that I’m pretty good at keeping it together in the face of what at one point in my life would have been an absolute nightmare to witness.
“It showed the amount of growth I’ve experienced since becoming a scientist and a mum, and honestly it gave me some interesting insight into wolf spider behaviour.”
BAD Boys actress Theresa Randle has been arrested in Los Angeles.
The star – who shot to fame in the 90s – was detained by cops on a felony charge.
On October 7, 2024, Theresa Randle was arrested for felony assault in Los Angeles.
She was detained following an incident that happened on October 5, 2024.
Law enforcement told TMZ that cops were called to a home in the L.A. area over an alleged assault.
They said that Theresa had already left the scene when they got there.
Two days later police were called out again to an alleged domestic violence issue and restraining order violation at the same house.
This time when the cops arrived, Theresa was at the home and she was arrested for an alleged felony assault that occurred on October 5, 2024.
The movie star appeared in court on October 9, 2024, but the District Attorney notably rejected the case.
Theresa got her big break into Hollywood in the early 90s, appearing in much-loved movies like Malcolm X (1992), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), and also Space Jam (1996).
However, she is best known for playing Theresa Burnett, the wife of Martin Lawrence‘s character Marcus Burnett, in the Bad Boys movie.
Speaking about her reprising her character in the 2020 movie Bad Boys For LIfe, she told the Los Angeles Times: “She still remains laughing at both of them because they want to be so grown, so mature.
“They’re still the same Mike [Will Smith] and Marcus that she’s always known. And she still has to come in between them. Nothing has really changed.”
Cut from Bad Boys
However, despite this Theresa wasn’t asked back to be in the fourth Bad Boys movie.
The film – released in June 2024 – decided not to ask her back to play the role of Marcus’ wife.
Instead, actress Tasha Smith was recast in the role.
Theresa is married to Timothy Brown aka Father MC.
Like his wife, he has also enjoyed success in the entertainment industry.
As a rapper, he released several albums in the 90s.
He also famously posed for a spread for Playgirl in 1996.
HARROWING footage shows the moment a monster broke down as she revealed to police where to find a bloody hammer used to murder her parents.
Virginia McCullough stabbed her mum Lois, 71, multiple times and hit her with a hammer “like someone badly playing a xylophone” at their home in Chelmsford, Essex.
She also killed her 70-year-old dad-of-five John by poisoning him with prescription medication crushed into his drink.
McCullough then hid her dad’s body in a “makeshift tomb” in a ground floor bedroom.
She wrapped her mum in a sleeping bag and left her in an upstairs wardrobe.
The monster lived with the couple’s bodies for four years after murdering them between June 17 and June 20, 2019.
They were finally discovered in September 2023 – although Lois and John had not been seen alive since August 2018.
McCullough has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 36 years after she pleaded guilty to murder.
Haunting footage released by police shows the killer breaking down as she gives detailed instructions on where to find the weapons she used to kill her parents.
She tells officers that they can find a knife upstairs in the “middle of the brown carpet”.
Voice cracking, the monster adds: “So on the ground floor underneath the stairs, there’s a few like storage boxes and things and in the middle, I think it’s in both boxes or in a bag or something…if you want to shush after this I will but every bit helps…it’s a hammer.
“Yeah, I know. I know but I’m trying to help so you find everything. It will still have blood on it. It’s rusted but will still have traces on it.
“So not cooperating is futile…and I should pay for what I’ve done so yeah.”
The footage also shows the moment McCullough was finally arrested at the home where she lived with her parents’ rotting bodies.
She appears eerily calm as she tells officers “I’ll cooperate” while they handcuff her.
McCullough then points down the hallway before asking: “Can we go in there for a second just so I can tell you something?
“I need to tell you something about what’s upstairs on the top floor as well.”
The officers and McCullough make their way past a wooden door, where the killer says: “My dad’s body is in there”.
As the group stands in a separate room, she is asked about her mum but explains it’s a “little bit more complicated”.
McCullough tells the officers they can find her Lois’ body in a wardrobe “behind the bed at the back next to a sink”.
She adds: “I did know this would kind of come eventually. It’s proper that I serve my punishment.”
The killer later tells police: “Cheer up, at least you caught the bad guy.
“I deserve to get whatever’s coming sentence-wise because that’s the right thing to do and that might give me a bit of peace.”
The court heard she murdered her parents “in cold blood” in the summer of 2019.
She poisoned her dad then left him to die before going to bed.
The following morning, she struck her mum with a hammer as she sat in bed listening to the radio.
McCullough then stabbed Lois, who she described as a “happiness hoover” eight times in the chest and neck.
Lois and John lay undiscovered for four years after they were brutally murdered by their daughter.
To cover her evil tracks, McCullough would constantly lie about their whereabouts – claiming the pair were on unwell or on holiday.
All the while, the monster was using their bank cards to spend their hard-earned pensions – splurging £21,193 on gambling.
A month before the grim discovery was made, police visited the home for a welfare check.
Officers interviewed McCullough unaware the bodies were inside but no search was carried out as there was no indication of anything suspicious.
Essex Police carried out a review and concluded the female officer who interviewed McCullough had done nothing wrong.
Her web of lies finally unravelled in September 2023 when a worried GP raised the alarm over missed appointments.
They discovered a “homemade mausoleum” where John’s body had been entombed.
McCullough had stacked masonry blocks together, which were secured with filler, to make the tomb then covered it with blankets and paintings.
There were also 11 layers of “plastic and other material” covering his body, which was wrapped in a sleeping bag.
By Holly Christodoulou, Digital Court Editor
IN all my years reporting on some of the most high-profile court cases, I have never seen a confession as chilling as Virginia McCullough’s.
Despite brutally murdering both her parents in cold blood there is nothing that suggests even the slightest glimpse of remorse.
I’ve seen bodycam arrest footage where murderers feign surprise, ask for a cigarette, break down and a fair few “you’re joking” outbursts directed at police.
Most killers just continue lying in the hope their deceit will see them through to a not guilty verdict.
Never so calmly has a monster admitted to their crimes with such brutal honesty that even the cops are telling her to stop.
With her blonde bob and pink sweatshirt, you could be forgiven for thinking McCullough is simply gossiping with her neighbours about something gruesome she read in a local Facebook group.
She even signed her confession like she was signing for an Amazon package.
Chillingly, McCullough didn’t flinch as she walked police past the bedroom where her dad had lain dead for four years.
McCullough seemed more bothered by the sleeves on her top than the gruesome revelation she was making.
In fact the only emotion she showed is when she mentions the bloody hammer she used to murder her defenceless mum. And even then there’s not a real tear in sight.
Thank God the police – in McCullough’s own words – caught the bad guy because who knows how long she would have carried on living in that house of horrors with Lois and John unable to rest in peace.
Nicola Rice a Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “McCullough callously and viciously killed both of her parents before concealing their bodies in makeshift tombs within their home address.
“She spent the next four years manipulating and lying to family members, medical staff, financial institutions, and the police, spending her parent’s money and accruing large debts in their name.
“Working with the police we built a strong prosecution case to show the level of McCullough’s deceit both before and after the killings, which helped deliver a guilty plea, thereby sparing the victims’ loved ones the pain of a trial.
“This was a truly disturbing case, which has left behind it a trail of devastation, and I can only hope that the sentence passed today will help those who loved and cared for Lois and John begin to heal.”
