A TEENAGER has been told she is facing a life jail sentence for murdering a man at his Grays home.

Priscilla Scamp stabbed Daniel Thomas more than 30 times and cut his throat before leaving his flat in the town's Darnley Road last April.

The 18-year-old went to stay with friends and it was not until four weeks later that the badly decomposed body of 59-year-old Mr Thomas was found.

Scamp claimed she had acted in self defence after Mr Thomas tried to rape her.

But a jury of seven men and five women did not believe her and she was convicted on the murder charge.

Scamp showed no emotion after the verdict was announced.

Judge Charles Gratwicke told the teenager the only sentence was one of life imprisonment but he wanted reports on her first.

She was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at a later date.

The two week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Scamp blamed a perfectly innocent man for the murder.

Then she made a series of statements to police in which she claimed the murder was nothing to do with her but claimed she had discovered the body.

From the start, prosecutor David Holborn said she "weaved a web of deceit and lies."

Scamp said she had burned her clothes because she was scared police might think she was responsible.

And she also produced letters which she forged to make it look like she was being forced to take the blame for the killing.

In her final statement, she said she had acted in self defence after Mr Thomas had tried to rape her.

The teenager did not give evidence during her trial.

The prosecution said she was having a sexual relationship with Mr Thomas - known as Dave - in return for money.

He was last seen alive at the Natwest Bank in Grays high street on April 12 last year on CCTV at around lunchtime.

Over the next few days and weeks, he was not seen and police and council workers broke in on Sunday May 16 after a neighbour reported an "unpleasant smell and flies" coming from the flat.

Mr Thomas was lying on his back and a bloody footprint found at the scene matched one of Scamp's shoes police recovered later.