A riding school boss who gave a double killer a second chance after leaving prison was sexually assaulted, tortured and killed by the 56-year-old, a court heard.

Wendy Buckney, 71, was ‘brutally’ murdered by Brian Whitelock in a horrific attack using a knife, a table leg and a wooden shelf on 23 August 2022.

Swansea Crown Court was told the retired riding school owner wanted to help the killer after he was released from prison after spending 18 years behind bars for murder and manslaughter.

Whitelock moved in with Mrs Buckney in Clydach, Swansea, after his early release from prison and she hired him to do jobs in her home – after telling her sister that “everyone deserves a second chance”.

But after carrying out the attack, which also saw him sexually assault the hearty rider, Whitelock was seen leaving Mrs Buckney’s home the next morning wearing only his boxers backwards and covered in blood.

The court heard how he told locals: “I killed Wendy. “I don’t know why, she was good to me.”

Wendy Buckney, 71, was ‘brutally’ killed in a horrific attack using a knife, a table leg and a wooden shelf

Brian Whitelock was arrested in the quiet Welsh village of Clydach

Whitelock admits manslaughter but denies killing Mrs Buckney, claiming he was acting out of character due to a brain injury.

However, prosecutor Christopher Rees KC said his previous convictions for killing two men in 2001 showed he had “a tendency to use explosive and disproportionate violence” and that there were similarities between the crimes.

A post-mortem examination found that “vulnerable” Mrs Buckney – who suffered from mobility problems – had “too many” injuries for pathologists to count and flesh from her body was found on the walls and ceiling after the attack of horror.

Whitelock was convicted of murdering friend Nicky Morgan, 27, after hitting him with a hammer and killing his own brother Glenn in a fire while trying to destroy evidence of the crime.

Mr Rees said that after he was arrested over Ms Buckney’s death in August 2022, Whitelock said: “I will not serve another life sentence.”

The court heard how Mrs Buckney was killed by “someone she knew and trusted to let her into her home”.

Mr Rees said: “He is also a man, the prosecution says, with a long-standing drug problem and a significant history of violence and attempting to deflect blame and responsibility for his actions.”

He said Ms Buckney “must have suffered a great deal” before her death with “multiple stab wounds, sharp force injuries and blunt force injuries inflicted on her – too many for pathologist Dr. Leadbeater, who examined his body to effectively and accurately count them.”

The court heard that her flat had blood and parts of flesh on her walls and ceiling and parts of MDF wood shelving embedded in her shin.

Mr Rees said: “On arrest the accused admitted not only killing her but torturing her with various objects.”

Whitelock being led away by the police in handcuffs

Whitelock was seen leaving Mrs Buckney’s house wearing only his boxers backwards and covered in blood.

He told the officer: “It looks like I tortured her, literally. He begged me to stop.

But in the days that followed, Whitelock changed his story to say he found Ms Buckney injured and went to help her and saw “shadowy silhouettes” outside her flat.

The court heard he admitted manslaughter by reducing responsibility in May this year, saying a brain injury was to blame because his actions had caused him to fall and fracture his skull in the previous days.

Mrs Buckney founded the beloved Pen-Y-Fedw Riding Center and Livery Yard and still kept horses after moving to her new home.

Mr Rees said although she had no children of her own, Mrs Buckney was much loved by her 16 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and two grown-up step-children and taught hundreds of children how to ride.

Mr Rees said Whitelock moved in on her and she hired him to do jobs despite her family warning against it.

A post-mortem examination found “vulnerable” Mrs Buckney had “too many” injuries for pathologists to count and flesh from her body was found on the walls and ceiling after the horror attack.

Police cordoned off the area on 23 August 2022 while forensic officers examined the crime scene for evidence

He said: “Mrs Buckney told her sister Mr Whitelock, her neighbour, was helping her with odd jobs and paid him to do jobs around her flat.

“Her sister expressed concern about this as Ms Buckney told her the defendant had been in prison in the past but she didn’t know what for but in Ms Buckney’s words as she put it: ‘everyone deserves a second chance “.

Mr Rees told the jury that Whitelock’s previous convictions would help them understand “the nature of the man you are dealing with”.

Describing the previous murders, Mr Rees said: “Following a drink and drug fueled row, the defendant repeatedly struck Nicholas Morgan in the face with a weapon – an ax handle or hammer – causing his death.

“He left the restaurant and bought a can of petrol from a nearby garage and returned to the address to set it on fire. He poured petrol over Mr Morgan’s body and other parts of the property before setting it on fire.

“The defendant’s brother Glenn Whitelock was sleeping upstairs when the fire started. He died of smoke inhalation.

Mr Rees said there were “significant similarities” between Ms Buckley’s killing and the previous murder and manslaughter.

Locals have left flowers at the site where 71-year-old Wendy Buckney-Morgan was found dead on August 23, 2022.

A police cordon was established at the site on 23 August 2023

A forensic police officer goes to the marquee outside a flat in Tanycoed Road, Clydach – where Mrs Buckney was killed

He said: “In both cases a gun was used to kill by repeated stabbing and both victims suffered serious facial injuries.

“In both cases explosive and disproportionate violence was used for no apparent reason, in both cases the crime scene was significantly affected after death.

“In both cases the victims were killed in the early hours of the morning and were trusted to be there. In both cases the defendant was under the influence of drugs.

“In both cases, he was said to be babbling and incoherent afterwards – which is significant given that he did not claim any head injury in 2001.”

Whitelock, of Clydach, near Swansea, is representing himself and has pleaded not guilty to Ms Buckney’s murder, but admits manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

The trial, before Mr Justice Griffiths, continues.