Robert Cordingley jailed for life for murdering father
A man who murdered his 91-year-old father by smothering him with a pillow at their West Yorkshire home has been jailed for life.
Robert Cordingley, 57, of Bingley Road, Shipley admitted killing his father, George, in January at the home they had shared for 57 years.
Cordingley was sentenced to a minimum of nine years at Newcastle Crown Court.
The court heard Cordingley, who was his father's carer, had previously been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.
The court was told the father, a widower who had been a well-known motorbike competitor, was found dead in a bedroom.
After killing him, Cordingley fed his cat then had a shower.
'Tragic and unusual'
He then went to a police station, which was closed, so he approached police officers in a supermarket car park and told them he had murdered his father.
The court heard evidence that suggested George Cordingley had begun to suffer from dementia.
Judge Mr Justice McCombe said: "This is a very tragic and unusual case.
"The deceased was 91 years old when he died and he had lived with the defendant for his whole life.
"There is evidence that he began to suffer from dementia but no help was sought.
"The defendant cared for his father by writing him notes to tell him where he was food was and helped him prepare for the day.
"But a growing frustration was present with the defendant which led him to taking the decision to end his father's life."
Det Insp Steve Snow, of West Yorkshire Police, said after the hearing: "It is hard to imagine what must have been going through Robert Cordingley's mind when he ultimately decided to end his own father's life.
"The evidence suggested that this was not a sophisticated plan, but one seemingly prompted out of desperation."
He added: "Cordingley will now have to reflect on his decision, not only to take another life, but to subsequently ruin his own."