Man Receives Life in Prison for Murder of Vulnerable Woman

A man has been convicted of the murder of vulnerable 50-year-old Glenna Siviter, whose body was sadly discovered inside an address on Grimwood Avenue in Middlesbrough on 15th December 2023. 

Andrew Hall, aged 47, of Thorntree Avenue in Middlesbrough, has also been further convicted of the attempted murder of Craig Woodier and section 18 wounding against Samuel Harker.

Hall was arrested in connection with the murder of Glenna Siviter in December last year, and later in connection with the attempted murder of Craig Woodier and assault on Samuel Harker. 

He was interviewed extensively by police and subsequently charged with all three offences, appearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in mid-January this year.  Hall pleaded not guilty and opted for a trial at Newcastle Crown Court. 

Today, Hall was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 36 years for murder and an additional 27 years for attempted murder and 5 years for wounding with intent, to run concurrently.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Carr from Cleveland Police’s HMET (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.

“I would like to place on record my thanks to the witnesses who provided evidence in this case.  Furthermore, the bravery of both Samuel Harker and Craig Woodier for attending court and reliving their ordeals as witnesses. 

“Throughout the course of this challenging and complex investigation we have offered the family of Glenna support.  Due to Hall’s denials, they have had to listen to the awful evidence in this case and hear about how Glenna was murdered in the family home.  They have shown great courage and dignity throughout the investigation and more recently the trial.     

“I welcome the sentence given today; Hall will now spend a considerable amount of time in prison and whilst this cannot bring Glenna back to her loved ones, I do hope this brings a degree of comfort to her family.”

Declan Siviter, son of Glenna Siviter, said: “Over the past six months since losing my mother Glenna, my family and I have been devastated; it has felt as though we've had the darkest cloud looming over our head.

“It's always hard losing a loved one anyway, but to have someone taken from you in such a disgustingly violent way as Andrew Hall has took my mother, it's a sickening whirlwind of mixed emotions with ultimately, no happy outcome, just constant grief and despair.

“My mother was absolutely great, just a happy, fun-loving person who loved her family, worshipped her granddaughters and had time for anybody who needed her.

“She moved to Jersey some 20-25 years ago to get away from Middlesbrough to sort her head out. She did that perfectly and ended up working really hard and making a nice life for herself out there.

“This all changed in 2017 when her mother (my nana) died, then she wanted to come back home and be there for me, our Evie and the family. Everything was good for a long time until around a year before my mother's death, when we lost our Aunty Joan who my mam lived with in Jersey. I believe, unfortunately, this is the reason my mother ended up back on drugs, and again mingling with the likes of Hall.

“What he has done to my mother physically, and us as a family mentally, is horrific and despicable. He’s robbed my children of their grandmother and left me feeling somewhat empty and heartbroken, knowing that she would have trusted him as well, only to be literally stabbed in the back, makes me shudder inside. 

“During the whole trial the defence made it clear to point out my mother was on drugs and paranoid. On them she may have been, but drugs or not, mental health and all, trust me as the person who found my mother hidden like rubbish underneath a settee, nobody deserves that. No one should have to suffer sick acts of blatantly excessive violence and to be left to rot, all done by someone who apparently cared for her and was like a brother to her.

“After hearing all the details of the wounds inflicted upon my mother by Hall, I can't help but think to myself, I wonder what she was thinking? I hope she was knocked out. What if she wasn't? Was she pleading with him to stop?

“I find myself almost hearing her crying out whilst he's doing it sometimes. For a long time all I could see was my mam’s hand sticking out from under the sofa from that day, every time I closed my eyes. Although time is a great healer, it's safe to say that some things are going to be haunting me deeply for the rest of my life, and my family will never be the same again.

“Andrew Hall should never be let back out into the public for as long as he breathes, he's clearly a very dangerous individual who seems to be able to turn incredibly violent, very quickly, with anyone at all. 

“He's also a lying, manipulative man that stole large amounts of belongings and sentimental jewellery from my mother after murdering her, which he then sold for a mere fraction of their worth, just to score 'a rock of crack'.

“He is clearly a man without any morals or decency, a drug abuser with a cowardly habit of carrying a knife everywhere he goes, with no hesitation of using it to cause pain and suffering.

“He has also showed not one bit of remorse. 

“Please never let this man see the light of day again.”

*** Image of Glenna Siviter from her family ***