A builder described as 'pure evil' has been sentenced to life in prison for the murders of two women, Alexandra Morgan and Leah Ware. Mark Brown, 41, of St Leonards, East Sussex, killed the women, who went missing six months apart in 2021. He was given two life sentences, to be served concurrently, with a minimum term of 49 years.
Brown killed Ms Morgan and burned her body in a converted oil drum, but never revealed what happened to Ms Ware. After his conviction in December, Mr Justice Nicholas Hilliard considered a whole-life term. The judge sentenced Brown in his absence after he refused to attend court, stating: 'No sentence I pass is any measure of the lives lost.'
Detectives from Kent and Sussex Police said they had tried to ask Brown about Ms Ware's remains but to no avail. Det Ch Insp Andy Wolstenholme described Brown as 'a man who needs to be in control' and said his absence was 'a sign of what a repulsive person he really is'. Det Ch Insp Neil Kimber added: 'This is about responsibility and he didn't want to take it.'
The court heard victim impact statements from Ms Ware's mother, Rebecca Martin, who said Brown continued 'his sadistic torture of our family's life by not telling us what happened to her'. Ms Ware's cousin Alice Barnard called Brown 'pure evil'. Ms Morgan's parents described her as 'bright and energetic' with hopes for her future with her two children.
Brown, a father of one with a long-term partner, met both victims on an escort website. He maintained that Ms Ware is still alive and that Ms Morgan died accidentally in a workshop, after which he burned her body. The jury heard a message from Brown saying: 'It happened again... an old oil drum, five litres of diesel, and hey presto, there's not very much left.' He added: 'A psychopath with a conscience - it's a joke really.'
