More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Self-described "psychopath" Mark Brown was today sentenced to life in prison for killing two women – including a mum from Kent.
When Alexandra Morgan left home on Remembrance Sunday last year she told family she was heading to Yorkshire for a spa break and would be back in a few days.
But the mum from Kent never returned and weeks later her body was discovered at a building site in Sevenoaks.
The 34-year-old was last seen alive refuelling her white Mini Cooper at a Shell garage just metres from her home in Sissinghurst, near Cranbrook.
At the till the manager remarked she looked “more dolled up” than usual but otherwise seemed her usual, happy self.
It has since emerged the life of the mum-of-two – who was trying to earn money to support her young sons – was tragically cut short just hours later at the hands of perverted "psychopath" Mark Brown.
Unbeknownst to loved ones, Ms Morgan, known as Alex by her friends and family, had been working as an escort, which is how she met Brown.
Part-time builder Brown, 41, lived something of a "double life" and had enlisted the services of the young mum who he had met online, at a remote farm he rented near Hastings, East Sussex.
During a six-week long trial at Hove Crown Court jurors heard the labourer had attempted to "lure" Alex in with the promise of lucrative "six-figure sum" web-cam work at a Brighton hotel.
But Ms Morgan was murdered shortly upon arrival at his farm inside a converted shipping container Brown used for sex, a court heard.
He disposed of her body in an oil drum fashioned into an incinerator days later and brought it to work with him.
Brown admitted to burning Ms Morgan head first "in a panic" but claimed she had tripped and fell and her death was an accident.
The jury at his trial did not agree and today he was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 49 years for the killings.
The timeline of events revealed in the case provides a shocking insight into Brown, who the court heard describe himself as a "psychopath with a conscience".
What happened to Alexandra Morgan?
The investigation began on Tuesday 18 November 2021 when Ms Morgan's parents reported her missing to Kent Police after she failed to return home as expected.
Extensive detective work established that four days earlier on Remembrance Sunday she had driven from her home in Wisley Pound, Sissinghurst to meet Brown at Little Bridge Farm.
Officers cordoned off access to the rented yard off Rock Lane which was unoccupied on arrival and commenced a search.
Brown later arrives in his work van and was described by cops as being a “very calm" and a "willing participant” to a non-custodial interview before handing over his mobile phone and having his fingerprints taken.
Forensic crews wearing suits, gloves and masks set about the mammoth task of combing over all corners of the farm for clues as to Ms Morgan’s whereabouts.
Such was the enormity of the search, 133 officers were enlisted to trawl through the grounds in a large-scale operation that lasted just under six weeks and saw police analyse more than 700 hours of CCTV footage and cell mast data.
But it was one piece of footage in particular that was vital in placing Brown at the scene of the crime.
Jurors were shown a chilling CCTV capture of Ms Morgan’s White Mini Cooper arriving at Rock Lane before following Brown's gold Jaguar up the dirt path to his yard.
Three days later on November 17 Brown enlists the help of a friend to remove Ms Morgan’s Mini from Little Bridge Farm and it’s dumped on a side road with switched plates.
On the strength of the evidence found – and before Ms Morgan’s remains were found – a decision was made to charge Brown with her murder on November 25 - a week after she was first reported missing.
Officers found the oil drum he used to dispose of her body at a building site near Sevenoaks where Brown worked.
Dental records were used to confirm the remains were that of Ms Morgan.
Anticipating his arrest, Brown had told his boss Alan Downs in Sevenoaks: "I’m going to have to go down for this one for 25 years to life".
When asked "what for?" he replied "I'd rather not say" before adding "well, it depends on what they find at my yard".
He also concealed the key to her Mini in a crisp packet and put it in a digger after trying to co-opt a colleague into his murder plot.
Meanwhile, at Ms Morgan's home near Cranbrook police discovered a "handwritten trail of clues" in a box of rollerblades in her youngest son's bedroom.
Inside was a large sum of cash, a mobile telephone and handwritten notes. One note included the PIN for a mobile phone.
The handset had stored pictures which the note described as “photos evidence Brighton Premier inn or Travellodge, security company on site,” and then “check postcode TN34 5NY, Rock Lane, opposite Bartletts" in reference to Brown's false promise of web-cam work.
After appearing in court, Brown was presented with this evidence and admitted burning her body but never confessed to her murder.
What happened to Leah Ware?
While searching Brown’s van, officers found prescription drugs in the name of Leah Ware, 33,from Hastings.
Believing she may be able to help with their ongoing enquiries, detectives tried to find the mum-of-three but were unable to do so.
On November 26 – a day after Brown is arrested for Ms Morgan's murder – Kent Police contact Sussex Police to raise concerns about Ms Ware's welfare and officers opened a missing person investigation.
Detectives discovered Ms Ware had been living under lock and key in a converted shipping container with Brown, having met him through the same adult services website in March 2018.
No one had seen or spoken to her since early May 2021 – either in person or online.
Police also found there was no record of her using a mobile phone, accessing her finances, or receiving medical care since that time.
Detectives concluded that Brown was the last person to see Leah alive and a missing person investigation is dialled up to homicide on Wednesday December 8 .
They believe she died on or around the evening of May 7 2021 when her phone disconnected from the network after she was shut inside the shipping container.
Brown's trial heard Ms Ware had led a "chaotic lifestyle" and was not in custody of her three kids.
She took medication for mental health problems including anxiety and depression and was resentful at Brown who called her his "Princess" and had pledged to leave his wife for her.
Following her death, Brown had tried to create the false impression Ms Ware was still alive.
He continued to collect her weekly prescriptions and made regular withdrawals from her bank account after having her cards redirected to his sister's postal address.
Brown claimed the three-year affair had soured weeks before her disappearance – although the pair shacked up again during a security gig at the Mecca Bingo in Ashford in April of last year.
When on the stand he accepted he had given “differing accounts” as to where Ms Ware was after her sudden disappearance on May 7.
The labourer, who described himself as a "psychopath with a conscience" told some people the Hastings mum had been “sectioned” and sent to “a mental hospital” .
While he told others Ms Ware had “killed herself”, referring to her in the past tense in unguarded exchanges with an old school friend.
Brown had also rehomed his ex-lover's beloved Mastiff, while the bones of a smaller dog – consistent with her beloved Pomeranian Lady – were discovered with a dumbbell attached to its collar on the farm.
During the trial the part-time security guard had tried to claim Ms Ware had killed her pet but family and friends say she was devoted to her animals and would never have hurt or left them voluntarily.
Her body has never been found.
While in custody for the murder of Ms Morgan, Brown was interviewed by Sussex Police in relation to the disappearance of Ms Ware.
He gave no comment and was charged with her murder on February 1 2022 at Lewes Crown Court.
The judge decides both cases will be heard jointly and Brown is remanded in custody until the trial which started on October 18.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, CPS South East Senior Crown Prosecutor Libby Clark said: "It was very important that he had that first hearing and joined up with the PTPH (plea and trial preparation hearing) for Alex Morgan.
Read more from this case:
Murder accused Mark Brown described himself as 'psychopath with a conscience'
Murder accused’s type was ‘drop dead girls with mental health issues’
Leah Ware’s phone off network when shut in shipping container, murder trial told
Murder-accused shacked up with missing Leah Ware inside derelict Bingo Hall
Mark Brown offered Alexandra Morgan 'web cam work'
Man accused of double murder said workshop 'looked like a murder scene'
“I always felt that while there was sufficient evidence in relation to the killing of Leah Ware by Mark Brown, it was infinitely stronger when it was linked with another case, so the murder of Alex Morgan.
“We couldn’t just allow things to drift along.
"Once we were in that position we had to move it and so we said yes we are going to charge so we could seek to join the two cases at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Brown pleaded not guilty to both murders but following a six-week trial at Hove Crown Court was convicted by a unanimous verdict.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, paid tribute to Ms Morgan following the verdict and thanked all those involved in bringing Brown to justice.
He said: "Alex Morgan was a young woman dedicated to her two young children.
"She had everything to live for but tragically, her efforts to earn money to support her family caused Alex to come into contact with Mark Brown.
"Brown is an exceptionally dangerous individual who poses a significant threat to women.
"I am extremely pleased he has been convicted of Alex’s murder and, once he has been sentenced, I hope Alex’s family and friends can find some form of closure to come to terms with her tragic loss."
With regards to the murder of Ms Ware, Detective Superintendent Andy Wolstenholme, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, added: "No-body homicides are incredibly rare and difficult to prove but thanks to an enormous amount of investigative work and close liaison with our colleagues in Kent Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, we were able to build a really strong case that showed Mark Brown to be responsible for Leah’s death.
"Leah was a loving and trusting young woman, but sadly her later life wasn’t without its difficulties.
"She became dependent on Mark Brown and he used that to his advantage until ultimately, it led to her death.
"He may never tell us how or why he killed her but we hope his conviction for her murder will bring some sense of justice to the family and friends Leah left behind."
