By Tom Gardner PUBLISHED: 05:04 EST, 7 June 2012 | UPDATED: 10:12 EST, 7 June 2012 A former Marine who murdered his neighbour was twice turned away by police after handing himself in and confessing to the crime, a court heard. Killer Thomas Puxty had to demand an interview after officers refused to believe him when walked into a police station to admit to brutally torturing and murdering his neighbour five years earlier, it was said. Last year, Puxty, 31, was sentenced to life, with a minimum of 28 years, for the savage killing of Lee Clement at his home in Woolwich, south London, in March 2006.
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Killer Thomas Puxty has sentence cut when Appeal Court judge hears how he 'effectively solved his own crime'
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Officers refused to believe Puxty when he confessed to brutally torturing and killing neighbour Lee Clement
Lee Clement
Lee Clement
‘Detailed and extensive enquiries revealed that following the disposal of the body, Puxty withdrew money from @placeholder’s bank account, taking approximately £50,000 over a three month period in order to fuel his drugs and alcohol addiction, as well his liking for luxury goods and motorbikes.’