Man, 21, pleads guilty to murdering mother-of-two, 4

A 21-year-old man today pleaded guilty to murdering a mother of two who was found strangled and ‘beaten to death’ in an area of undergrowth after being grabbed off the street.  

Valentin Lazar admitted to murdering 45-year-old Maria Rawlings in Romford, east London, in May, after abducting her while she was leaving hospital following a fall. Her two daughters watched on at the short Old Bailey hearing today. 

Mrs Rawlings was followed off a bus and targeted by Lazar because she was a vulnerable woman alone at night, prosecutors said. She suffered multiple injures but there was no evidence of sexual assault. 

At an earlier hearing, the prosecutor, Paul Jarvis, had said: ‘He was probably carrying a knife. He led her into the bushes before violently attacking her and ultimately killing her before stealing some of her belongings and walking off.’

Maria Jane Rawlings (pictured above), 45, from Chelmsford, Essex, was found dead in Little Heath, Romford, by a man who was walking his dog in May 

Mrs Rawlings was last seen in King George Hospital in Goodmayes, Ilford, on May 3. 

She left hospital and made her way on foot to Barley Lane in the direction of the A12. 

Her body was found in bushes on Little Heath road a day later. 

Family members left heartfelt tributes next to where her body was found.  

A post-mortem examination gave the preliminary cause for her death as neck compression and blunt force head trauma.

Mrs Rawlings’ devastated family left flowers by the bush where her body was found, with a message attached to one bouquet reading: ‘Mummy. I love you now, forever and always. 

‘In this s*** world you made things brighter. Forever my angel. Your big baby.’ 

One note read: ‘I can’t believe this has happened. I love you so much, please be at rest.’

And a touching message from her grandsons read: ‘Nanny, we love you soo much, we will never forget you. Your boys.’ 

Sentencing was adjourned until January 10 next year.  

Detectives believe Mrs Rawlings was attacked after she left King George Hospital

Flowers left at Little Health in Romford where Ms Rawlings was found dead. A message attached to one bouquet read: ‘Mummy. I love you now, forever and always’