A son who found his mother’s body hidden under the sofa gave a heartbreaking account of how her murder had left the family devastated.

Glenna Siviter was stabbed more than 30 times by Andrew Hall in a drug-fuelled attack before he stole her jewellery to sell to fund his habit.

Declan Siviter, who found his mother’s decomposing body four days after she was stabbed to death, said the 47-year-old she never be released from prison.

In an emotional victim impact statement, he told Newcastle Crown Court Hall had torn apart his family and robbed his children of a wonderful person.

Glenna SiviterGlenna Siviter (Image: Cleveland Police)

Mr Siviter said his mother moved from the Middlesbrough area 25 years ago to get away from bad influences, but returned when her mother died in 2017.

Fighting back tears, he said: "What he has done to my mother physically and my family mentally is horrific and despicable. He has robbed my children of their grandmother and left me feeling empty and heartbroken.

“Knowing she would have trusted only to be stabbed in the back makes me shudder.”

He added: “To find my mother hidden like rubbish under the settee – nobody deserves that. Nobody should be left to rot.

“After hearing all the details about the injuries inflicted by Hall, I wonder what she was thinking? Was she knocked out? What if she wasn’t?

"Was she pleading with him to stop? All I can see is my mum's hand sticking out from under the sofa every time I close my eyes.

"Andrew Hall should never be let back out in public for as long as he breathes. He is clearly a very dangerous individual, who seems to be able to turn incredibly violent very quickly.

“He is a lying, manipulative, sneaky little rodent of a man, who sold jewellery, not scrap by the way, all for a rock of crack.

In an emotional plea, he added: “He has not shown one little bit of remorse. Please never let this man see the light of day again."

Andrew HallAndrew Hall (Image: Cleveland Police)

Hall, of Thorntree Avenue, Middlesbrough, was convicted of Ms Sciviter's murder, the attempted murder of Craig Woodier, and wounding with intent of Samuel Harker over a five-day period last December.

Jurors had heard how Hall and Ms Siviter had been friends since childhood and were "like brother and sister".

Mr Justice Nicholas Lavender sentenced Hall to life for his drug-fuelled violence over a five-day period.

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Hall was sentenced to a minimum of 36 years, less the time he has spent on remand, for his friend's murder, attempted murder, and wounding with intent.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Carr, from Cleveland Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “The body of Glenna, who was a vulnerable woman, was found by her son which must have been extremely traumatic for him. 

“She’d sustained multiple stab wounds during a violent and sustained attack.  Evidence recovered during the investigation identified the motive for the murder was theft, with Hall stealing and selling her jewellery. 

“Whilst Glenna’s body remained undiscovered for five days, Hall went about his daily business.  However, during this time he seriously assaulted two of his associates, Samuel Harker and Craig Woodier.  Woodier sustained serious injuries and it was this incident which prompted police to identify Hall as a suspect in the murder of Glenna."