159:
On 10 May 2009, Gilbert's decapitated body, with various other parts missing, was found in the Blue Lagoon; the head and the other parts were not found until
February 2010. Detectives believe he died overnight between 21 and 22 January 2009. A murder investigation was started and several arrests were
143:
to find out where he was claiming his benefits so they could bring him back, although there were occasions when he returned of his own volition. Gilbert's sister was Watt's girlfriend and lived with him during the early part of the abuse; she later told the court she had seen
Gilbert being attacked
108:
Gilbert was born in 1982 into an unstable home, and spent parts of his childhood in care. He was the third of five children. The family moved frequently. In 1993, his sister accused him of having sexually assaulted her; the result of this sexual assault investigation was inconclusive. In 1997, his
172:
The trial into the murder began in
February 2010. In April, James Watt; his girlfriend, Natasha Oldfield; and Nichola Roberts, the girlfriend of James's brother Richard, were found guilty of Gilbert's murder. Richard Watt; Robert Watt, James's brother; and the mother of the brothers, Jennifer
201:
in 2011 which found that the response by police, social workers and medical professionals involved in his case was inadequate. It made eight recommendations for improvement. The report said that
Gilbert's childhood led to his being "literally and emotionally abandoned without consistent or
93:. He had for years been kept as a slave and subjected to abuse by the Watt family, six of whom – including James Watt, the ringleader – were jailed for their role in the murder. Gilbert, who had an unstable childhood, was considered a vulnerable and naive man who was easily exploited.
181:. Antonio Watt, the father of the brothers, was acquitted of familial homicide and perverting the course of justice. James Watt received a sentence of 36 years, Oldfield 18, Roberts 15, Richard 6, Robert 8, and Smith-Dennis 10. The judge, John Bevan, considered giving James Watt a
134:
homes until his death. While living with the Watt family, he was frequently beaten and tortured, forced to work as a slave, and had his benefit money taken from him. The abuse, some of which was captured on video, included: being stabbed, hit with a baseball bat, shot at with an
600:
117:
when he was 13. He met Watt in 1998 when they were both living in a children's home. He was also bullied at children's homes and seen as easy to manipulate. By 2000, Gilbert had several criminal convictions and cautions, and had spent time in prison and in a
249:, familial homicide is "the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult" and was "designed to ensure those jointly accused of the murder of such a person cannot avoid prosecution by blaming each other or remaining silent".
597:
643:
155:
neighbours." The family, most of whom were unemployed, moved addresses continuously, kept pit-bull-type dogs and giant lizards, and were known for their violence and criminality; by 2001 the police had visited the family 112 times.
188:
In May 2011, Richard Watt had his sentence reduced to four years on appeal because he helped to convict the others and to find the other body parts. The appeals of Watt, Oldfield, and
Roberts were rejected.
185:, but did not because he thought he would have regarded it as a "badge of honour". Bevan described the case as a "grotesque story", and said Michael Gilbert had died a "cruel, lonely and violent death".
139:, forced to drink his own urine, and forced to stand in boiling water. He was also forced to sleep chained to his bed to stop him from escaping. When he did escape, the Watt family would use his
650:
626:
509:
797:
221:
782:
246:
747:
767:
290:
164:
had been cut, there were stab wounds on the chest, and internal injuries to the stomach and intestine, but was unsure of the precise cause of death.
777:
608:
97:
622:
752:
583:
560:
537:
441:
406:
370:
347:
506:
737:
147:
The Watt family was described by the LSVAB report as a "caricature of the neighbours from hell", and was, according to Julian Sturdy of
762:
757:
178:
787:
119:
694:
464:
205:
A report was published by the IPCC in 2011 which found that three police investigations involving
Gilbert were flawed.
792:
712:
140:
130:
After leaving the children's home, Gilbert continued to associate with Watt, moving in and out of Watt's various
742:
294:
73:
212:, said "the council and its partners are determined to learn the lessons from this Serious Case Review".
209:
152:
96:
After his death, reports were published by Luton
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board (LSVAB) and the
198:
182:
110:
580:
557:
534:
484:
438:
403:
367:
344:
325:
174:
670:. Luton Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Board. May 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2011. 9 July 2011.
716:
698:
604:
587:
564:
541:
513:
468:
445:
410:
374:
351:
291:"New headless body murder charges | Local News in Luton, Dunstable and Bedfordshire"
772:
63:
731:
598:"IPCC publishes findings into police response to incidents involving Michael Gilbert"
85:
occurred in 2009 in the United
Kingdom. His decapitated body was found in a lake in
518:
90:
691:
681:
461:
100:(IPCC) which identified failings by public services involved in Gilbert's case.
136:
114:
208:
Following the report by the Luton board, Trevor Holden, chief executive of
109:
mother told police that
Gilbert had sexually assaulted a boy. He attended
720:
709:
702:
685:
591:
568:
545:
488:
472:
449:
414:
378:
355:
329:
148:
86:
59:
55:
623:"Video: Important lessons to be learned from Michael Gilbert case"
161:
131:
644:"The Murder of Adult A (Michael Gilbert): A Serious Case Review"
160:
made. The pathologist who examined the body found that the
625:. lutontoday.co.uk. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
326:"Life of abuse from people Michael Gilbert called family"
710:"Michael Gilbert: Police lagoon victim probes 'flawed'"
581:"Michael Gilbert: Police lagoon victim probes 'flawed'"
345:"Michael Gilbert: Missed opportunities in 'slave' case"
692:"Victim's family welcomes 'slave' murderers sentences"
404:"Watt family terrorised neighbours on Luton's estates"
558:"Man involved in Luton slave murder has sentence cut"
611:. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011. 8 July 2011.
426:"The Murder of Adult A (Michael Gilbert)", pp. 4–5.
69:
51:
43:
35:
27:
20:
485:"Blue Lagoon pathologist unsure of cause of death"
393:"The Murder of Adult A (Michael Gilbert)", p. 14.
501:
499:
497:
315:"The Murder of Adult A (Michael Gilbert)", p. 4.
280:"The Murder of Adult A (Michael Gilbert)", p. 3.
268:"The Murder of Adult A (Michael Gilbert)", p. 2.
439:"Three guilty of Arlesey lagoon 'slave' murder"
434:
432:
535:"Life terms for Blue Lagoon 'slave' murderers"
276:
274:
247:Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
8:
530:
528:
368:"Lagoon victim's sister 'attacked in house'"
113:and was bullied at school, and underwent a
798:Violence against men in the United Kingdom
122:; Watt was also well known to the police.
17:
705:. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
688:. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
609:Independent Police Complaints Commission
548:. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
381:. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
340:
338:
98:Independent Police Complaints Commission
522:. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
491:. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
452:. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
417:. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
332:. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
293:. Luton-dunstable.co.uk. Archived from
261:
238:
723:. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
594:. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
507:"Family jailed for Blue Lagoon murder"
475:. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
571:. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
389:
387:
358:. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
7:
783:Modern slavery in the United Kingdom
177:. All six were also found guilty of
462:"More arrests over decapitated man"
222:List of solved missing person cases
173:Smith-Dennis, were found guilty of
144:and had suffered violence herself.
748:2009 murders in the United Kingdom
14:
768:Incidents of violence against men
682:"Family of 'slave' give reaction"
179:perverting the course of justice
778:Missing person cases in England
1:
753:21st century in Bedfordshire
708:Report by Mark Worthington.
120:Young Offenders' Institution
39:21/22 January 2009 (age 26)
814:
738:2000s missing person cases
151:, "Luton's most notorious
715:25 September 2015 at the
697:29 September 2023 at the
603:28 September 2011 at the
586:29 September 2023 at the
563:29 September 2023 at the
444:29 September 2023 at the
409:29 September 2023 at the
373:29 September 2023 at the
350:29 September 2023 at the
141:National Insurance number
83:murder of Michael Gilbert
763:History of Bedfordshire
758:Formerly missing people
202:predictable guidance".
788:Murder in Bedfordshire
210:Luton Borough Council
656:on 29 September 2011
228:Notes and references
540:17 May 2022 at the
512:10 May 2017 at the
467:18 May 2009 at the
199:Serious Case Review
183:whole-life sentence
111:Halyard High School
44:Cause of death
793:Torture in England
245:Introduced by the
197:LSVAB published a
641:Flynn, Margaret.
175:familial homicide
79:
78:
805:
669:
665:
663:
661:
655:
649:. Archived from
648:
630:
620:
614:
578:
572:
555:
549:
532:
523:
503:
492:
482:
476:
459:
453:
436:
427:
424:
418:
402:Sturdy, Julian.
400:
394:
391:
382:
365:
359:
342:
333:
322:
316:
313:
307:
306:
304:
302:
287:
281:
278:
269:
266:
250:
243:
31:3 September 1982
18:
813:
812:
808:
807:
806:
804:
803:
802:
743:2009 in England
728:
727:
726:
717:Wayback Machine
699:Wayback Machine
677:
675:Further reading
667:
659:
657:
653:
646:
642:
638:
633:
621:
617:
605:Wayback Machine
588:Wayback Machine
579:
575:
565:Wayback Machine
556:
552:
542:Wayback Machine
533:
526:
514:Wayback Machine
504:
495:
483:
479:
469:Wayback Machine
460:
456:
446:Wayback Machine
437:
430:
425:
421:
411:Wayback Machine
401:
397:
392:
385:
375:Wayback Machine
366:
362:
352:Wayback Machine
343:
336:
323:
319:
314:
310:
300:
298:
289:
288:
284:
279:
272:
267:
263:
254:
253:
244:
240:
230:
218:
195:
170:
128:
126:Abuse and death
106:
52:Body discovered
23:
22:Michael Gilbert
12:
11:
5:
811:
809:
801:
800:
795:
790:
785:
780:
775:
770:
765:
760:
755:
750:
745:
740:
730:
729:
725:
724:
706:
689:
678:
676:
673:
672:
671:
668:(91.3 KB)
637:
634:
632:
631:
615:
613:
612:
573:
550:
524:
493:
477:
454:
428:
419:
395:
383:
360:
334:
317:
308:
297:on 4 June 2013
282:
270:
260:
252:
251:
237:
236:
229:
226:
225:
224:
217:
214:
194:
191:
169:
166:
127:
124:
105:
102:
77:
76:
71:
67:
66:
64:United Kingdom
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
37:
33:
32:
29:
25:
24:
21:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
810:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
741:
739:
736:
735:
733:
722:
718:
714:
711:
707:
704:
700:
696:
693:
690:
687:
683:
680:
679:
674:
652:
645:
640:
639:
635:
629:17 July 2011.
628:
624:
619:
616:
610:
606:
602:
599:
596:
595:
593:
589:
585:
582:
577:
574:
570:
566:
562:
559:
554:
551:
547:
543:
539:
536:
531:
529:
525:
521:
520:
515:
511:
508:
502:
500:
498:
494:
490:
486:
481:
478:
474:
470:
466:
463:
458:
455:
451:
447:
443:
440:
435:
433:
429:
423:
420:
416:
412:
408:
405:
399:
396:
390:
388:
384:
380:
376:
372:
369:
364:
361:
357:
353:
349:
346:
341:
339:
335:
331:
327:
321:
318:
312:
309:
296:
292:
286:
283:
277:
275:
271:
265:
262:
259:
258:
248:
242:
239:
235:
234:
227:
223:
220:
219:
215:
213:
211:
206:
203:
200:
192:
190:
186:
184:
180:
176:
167:
165:
163:
157:
154:
150:
145:
142:
138:
133:
125:
123:
121:
116:
112:
103:
101:
99:
94:
92:
88:
84:
75:
72:
68:
65:
61:
57:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:
34:
30:
26:
19:
16:
658:. Retrieved
651:the original
618:
576:
553:
519:The Guardian
517:
505:Jones, Sam.
480:
457:
422:
398:
363:
324:Kelly, Jon.
320:
311:
299:. Retrieved
295:the original
285:
264:
256:
255:
241:
232:
231:
207:
204:
196:
187:
171:
158:
146:
129:
107:
95:
91:Bedfordshire
82:
80:
15:
153:anti-social
70:Nationality
732:Categories
257:References
137:air pistol
115:mastectomy
104:Background
193:Aftermath
721:BBC News
713:Archived
703:BBC News
695:Archived
686:BBC News
660:10 April
627:Archived
601:Archived
592:BBC News
584:Archived
569:BBC News
561:Archived
546:BBC News
538:Archived
510:Archived
489:BBC News
473:BBC News
465:Archived
450:BBC News
442:Archived
415:BBC News
407:Archived
379:BBC News
371:Archived
356:BBC News
348:Archived
330:BBC News
301:17 April
216:See also
149:BBC News
636:Sources
87:Arlesey
74:British
60:England
56:Arlesey
666:
47:murder
773:Luton
654:(PDF)
647:(PDF)
233:Notes
168:Trial
162:aorta
132:Luton
662:2020
303:2013
81:The
36:Died
28:Born
734::
719:.
701:.
684:.
607:.
590:.
567:.
544:.
527:^
516:.
496:^
487:.
471:.
448:.
431:^
413:.
386:^
377:.
354:.
337:^
328:.
273:^
89:,
62:,
58:,
664:.
305:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.