The "wicked" doctor's son who suffocated his late father's 97-year-old patient will serve at least 20 years in prison.
Sandeep Patel, 38, showed "no remorse" as he was handed the two-decade sentence for suffocating Annie Temple, 97, at her home in Kinglassie, Fife in October 2019.
Patel, a chronic gambler who preyed on the elderly woman for cash, was first convicted of the murder in June after a lengthy trial.
Judge Michael O'Grady him a life sentence at the Glasgow's High Court today, saying during his judgment he had not seen "a flicker of remorse, regret or hint of humanity" from the medical researcher.
He added: "The least Annie Temple could have expected was a dignified and peaceful passing.
"But, you robbed her of that. In its place, you inflicted on her a death filled with confusion, pain and terror.
"Those who practice in these courts see and hear the dreadful things human beings do to one another.
"Sometimes crimes have the power to profoundly shock - I have to say yours is one of them.
"To kill a 97 year-old woman who had embraced you as a friend in such fashion, in her own home and bed and with such cruelty is wicked beyond any description."
Patel appeared via video link from prison and showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down, according to the Daily Record.
Annie, also known affectionately as Nan, was a former insurance worker who lived alone at her home in Kinglassie.
Patel's mother was one of Annie's only regular visitors and he claimed to have known her "ever since I can recall".
He often did odd jobs for the pensioner, he said, including bringing her bananas.
Police found Annie in her bed but police didn't initially treat it with suspicion.
Later an officer quizzed Patel and claimed he didn't see Annie on the day of her death.
He said he visited her a couple of weeks before to help fix a boiler.
Wendy Bradbury, Annie's friend and prosecution witness, told jurors the OAP "did not trust" Patel.
She also recalled speaking to him appearing "perfectly normal" when speaking about her death.
Prosecutors said Annie died from blunt force trauma and injuries were found on both her head and body.
Further to the beating, the 97-year-old's airways were "obstructed and constricted".
Thirty-five-year-old Patel still lived with his mother in Cardenden, Fife before being remanded.
Wendy told the court how the elderly woman was aware of money going missing from her sideboard, and thought it was taken by Patel.
The trial revealed Patel was a self-confessed "problem gambler", who had bet in excess of £100,000 between 2016 and 2020.
He infiltrated Annie's life and posing as a sincere and helpful friend.
He cashed £1,500-worth of cheques in Annie's name in the week before her death and tried another £1,250 two days before the murder - but staff at the bank blocked it.
When they contacted her, Annie told them she didn't think she had a cheque book.
In June 2019 he escorted the elderly woman to the bank, hoping to transfer himself £4,000 to help him buy a new car. Again, the bank blocked the transaction.
Patel had a history of fraudulent behaviour, and on one occasion he added two zeroes to a £5 overpayment cheque from a car company, and tried to cash it.
As part of the murder and fraud probe, Patel's electronic devices were seized and searched for evidence.
One January 2019 Whatsapp message to a friend read, "Mrs T got 2-300k in bank", before he went on to boast that her house was worth "100k".
Other messages showed the financial bind Patel was in, with arrears and loan payment warnings filling his inboxes.
Patel delayed the June trial several times. He made several excuses to avoid court, like claiming he couldn't concentrate on evidence due to a "ringing" in his ears".
David Green, Procurator Fiscal for Homicide and Major Crime, said: “Sandeep Patel took advantage of the trust fostered by his family’s relationship with Annie Temple and used it to defraud her of her money. When Ms Temple then discovered his betrayal, he brutally murdered her.
“It’s thanks to painstaking work by detectives and prosecutors that Patel has been brought to justice.
“Our thoughts are with Annie Temple’s loved ones as they attempt to come to terms with her murder.”
