A burglar who set fire to the body of a retired nurse in her South Norwood home has been found guilty of murder following a trial at the Old Bailey.

29-Year-old Aaron Fyle set fire to the home of Eulin Hastings - a 74-year-old pensioner, as she lay injured at the bottom of her stairs after being attacked by Fyle when she confronted him.

Fyle was found guilty on December 19 of murdering Ms Hastings and had already pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

The court heard how he had entered Ms Hastings's home in Birchanger Road on January 10, 2017.

He had gained access by standing on a wheelie bin and then smashed glass that was in the rear patio door.

Fyle was disturbed by Ms Hastings, which prompted him to hit her over the head before setting her body alight and looking for more properties to burgle.

On the same day, shortly after the murder had been discovered, a burglary was reported in nearby Davidson Road, SE25.

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Police were patrolling locally and officers were on the scene within six minute, where they then pursued Fyle, who was armed with a knife, across rooftops and through gardens.

This led to a standoff on the roof of a conservatory until a trained negotiator was able to bring Fyle down.

DNA evidence from Fyle was recovered from underneath Ms Hastings’ fingernails and her DNA was found on the jacket Fyle was wearing and he was re-arrested for her murder.

Emma Currie, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “As a career criminal Fyle went to vast lengths to satiate his malicious greed.

"It ended devastatingly, with the death of a 74-year-old grandmother in her own home."

She added: “Having set fire to Mrs Hastings, Fyle left his victim alone in her house, and sought out his next victim just some 400metres away.

“The defendant appeared so casual and relaxed that his second victim thought he must have been a friend of her husband at first.

“The lengths that Fyle went to for his own greed resulted in burgled homes and a woman’s life callously cut short.

"He will now have to face justice for his actions."

He will be sentenced on Friday, 10 January 2020.