A man who raped and murdered a mum-of-two has been jailed for at least 24 years.

Jill Barclay, 47, was attacked while walking home after a night out in Aberdeen.

Her body, which had been set on fire, was later discovered in the Dyce area of the city during the early hours of 17 September last year.

Rhys Bennett, 23, of Ballingry in Fife, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

As well as rape and murder, Bennett also admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice by destroying evidence to cover up his crimes.

The labourer was sentenced to life in prison with at least 24 years behind bars and was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Ms Barclay, a proposals engineer who worked for energy firm Petrofac, was described as a “deeply loved life partner, mother and daughter”.

Her family said: “We would like to thank family, friends and the community for their comforting support following Jill’s tragic death as we have waited for justice.

“Jill was a deeply loved life partner, mother and daughter. She didn’t deserve to die that day and especially in the unspeakable, brutal way it happened.

“This man has taken so much from us and changed our lives forever.”

Prosecutor Lorraine Glancy KC told the court forensic evidence suggested Ms Barclay had been alive when she had been set on fire.

Sentencing Bennett, Lord Arthurson said: “Your crimes against Ms Barclay were unimaginably wicked and indeed medieval in their barbarity.”

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Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick, who led the inquiry, said Bennett was tracked back to Fife following enquiries including CCTV analysis.

The “senseless and brutal” murder, was said to have had a “significant impact on the local community” and throughout the northeast of the country.

DS Patrick added: “This was a particularly harrowing investigation and it deeply affected everyone involved.

“I am glad that Bennett will now face the consequences of his depraved and wicked actions.”

David Green, lead homicide prosecutor for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said Ms Barclay should have arrived home safely.

He added: “This senseless and brutal crime has devastated a family and shocked the wider community.

“While we welcome today’s sentence as justice being served, we are acutely aware that no sentence can ever adequately reflect the suffering of Jill Barclay’s loved ones.

“Our thoughts remain with them.”

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