Shooting kept secret for 17 years

A terrified teenager who endured a childhood of "staggering evil" killed his violent, bullying father and then buried his body in the cellar, where the remains lay undiscovered for 17 years, the Old Bailey heardyesterday.

Stephen French kept a promise to his beloved mother that he would only speak about what he had done after she died, the court heard. It was not until he was in prison on remand for robberies that he described to police how he shot his father in the head as he slept, andburied the remains in a house in Forest Gate, east London.

The court heard how French, his mother and three elder brothers and sisters were beaten and terrified by his father, Peter Leslie.

French, 32, denied murdering his father but admitted manslaughter. He also pleaded guilty to robberies, attempted robberies and escaping from custody. He was jailed for 18 years.