A doctor's son who murdered one of his late father's elderly patients faces life in jail.
Sandeep Patel suffocated 97 year-old Annie Temple at her home in Kinglassie, Fife on October 25 2019.
The chronic gambler had earlier preyed on Annie for her money.
He had cashed cheques in her name behind her back - and chatted to a friend how the OAP had up to £300,000 savings.
The 38 year-old killed the widow just days after a bid to get his hands on even more money had been spotted by Annie's bank.
Patel was today convicted of murder following a protracted trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The medical researcher will learn the minimum he will spend behind bars next month.
Ex insurance worker Annie - known as Nan - lived alone at her home in Kinglassie.
She was known to have only a couple of regular visitors, which included Patel's mother.
Jurors heard how the pensioner was found was dead in her bed.
Police initially did not treat the death as suspicious.
Patel was quizzed by a constable and lied he had not seen Annie the day she died.
Patel said Annie had been a patient of his father's and that he had known her "ever since I can recall".
He claimed he carried out odd jobs for the OAP including bringing bananas to her.
He said: "The last time was a week Tuesday past. There was an issue with the pressure in her boiler. "
Annie's friend Wendy Bradbury told the trial how she also spoke with Patel and he appeared "perfectly normal" when discussing the pensioner's death.
But, prosecutors said Annie had been killed with blunt force trauma inflicted on her head and body.
She was also said to have had her airways "obstructed and constricted" by means unknown.
Patel, who lived with his mother in Cardenden, Fife, was charged with murder on November 15 2019.
Annie's friend Wendy told how the OAP "did not trust" Patel.
The witness said: "She had money gone missing from her sideboard.
"She believed the money had been taken by Mr Patel."
The murder and fraud probe revealed Patel was a self confessed 'problem gambler'.
He had bet over £109,000 between 2016 and 2020 winning just around a quarter of that back.
In desperate need for cash, he used Annie while claiming to be a helpful friend.
Patel cashed a number of cheques - totalling £1,500 - in Annie's name the week prior to her death.
He had then tried to pocket a further £1,250 two days before the murder - but suspicious staff at Annie's bank blocked the payment.
Annie was spoken to and admitted she did not even know she had a cheque book.
It also emerged in June 2019, Patel had gone with Annie to her bank hoping to transfer more than £4,000 for a supposed car purchase.
Staff again did not allow the transaction to go through.
Patel once got a £5 cheque as an overpayment from a car company - he then tried to cash it for £500 by illegally adding two zeroes.
Police examined a number of Patel's electronic devices including messages on them.
In one WhatsApp text in January 2019, Patel stated to a friend: "Mrs T got 2-300k in bank".
He also discussed the house being worth "100k".
Other messages in the month of the murder revealed Patel being warned about arrears in loan payments.
He had earlier asked for a £250 increase.
CCTV evidence also pinned Patel being near to Annie's home on the morning of the killing.
Judge Michael O'Grady QC remanded Patel in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports.
The trial was hit by several delays mostly sparked by Patel, who appeared in the dock in crutches.
His claims included fears he had covid, that he could not concentrate on evidence due to "ringing" in his ears and also stated he had not taken medication prior to leaving prison, where he was on remand.
Solicitor advocate Iain Paterson withdrew from defending him to be replaced by QC Mark Stewart.
A total of four new juries were picked before a trial was finally completed.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Sandeep Patel will now have to face the consequences of his actions.
“He preyed on an elderly lady purely for financial gain before taking her life. The lies and deceit he weaved through the local community in Kinglassie shows a complete disregard for all those around him.
“This was a complex investigation and I would like to than Annie's family, friends and those in the wider community who helped officers during this difficult enquiry. Our thoughts today are with all who knew Annie and I hope this conviction brings them some degree of comfort.
"Annie was a popular member of the community and her death caused widespread shock in the local area. I would like to reassure people that incidents such as this are extremely rare and ask that if anyone has any concerns to please speak to police.
Sandeep Patel is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, 28 July, 2021
