Stansted man Brett Rogers has been sentenced to a minimum of 32 years in prison after he was found guilty of murdering his mother and her friend in July last year.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Gillian PhillipsGillian Phillips (Image: Archant)

Former milkman Rogers, 23, stabbed his mum Gillian Phillips, 54, to death and stamped on her face at the home they shared in Bentfield Gardens, Stansted Mountfitchet.

He also repeatedly stabbed and caused a fatal head injury to David Oakes, 60, who had stayed with her overnight.

Rogers denied murdering them both on July 22 last year, but after an eight day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, the jury of eight women and four men took five and a half hours to unanimously convict him of both killings today (May 13).

Following the murders a number of knives were recovered from the address and tests established the defendant used multiple kitchen knives to inflict the injuries on both victims.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Flowers outside the house in Bentfield GardensFlowers outside the house in Bentfield Gardens (Image: Archant)

DCI Morgan Cronin, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said following the sentencing: “Brett Rogers failed to admit his responsibility for abruptly ending the lives of his mother and her friend is such a brutal way.

“Mrs Phillips had welcomed her son back in to her home despite his violent past. She was murdered in her own home; the place where she should have been safest, and by someone who she should have been able to trust.

“Brett Rogers has still not given a reason behind the murders. He is a violent man who thankfully will have a long time behind bars to think about his actions and will not be able to hurt anyone else.

“I would like to thank the family of Gillian Phillips and the family of David Oakes for their support throughout this investigation and acknowledge that Gillian’s family have had to endure significant conflict throughout this case due to dealing with both the loss of a loved one, and the arrest and prosecution of the defendant.”

Saffron Walden Reporter: David OakesDavid Oakes (Image: Archant)

David Oakes daughter Louise Wyllie said: “I’ve released a photo of my dad because I want people to know what he looked like. So that he’s not just a name any more.

“This was a horrible crime against two innocent people whose lives were cut short by the action of Brett Rogers. I’m glad that justice has been served and that the jury made the correct decision based on all the information they had been given.

“This has been a difficult time for all those involved both with my own family and that of Gillian’s too. Hopefully now it has come to a close we can all try and move on.”