A WAITER who murdered his own mother as she slept in her bed is appealing against his 30-year jail term.

Alexander McDonald, 27, tortured his mother Catherine by stabbing her in the neck with a knitting needle before he sexually assaulted her.

The Taunton restaurant waiter was high on cocaine and drink when he launched his brutal attack on his 57-year-old mother at her home in Norton Fitzwarren, last September.

Lawyers representing McDonald confirmed this week that they have lodged an appeal against the 30-year jail sentence imposed at Exeter Crown Court by trial judge Mr Justice Dingemans.

McDonald had denied murder but admitted manslaughter – but the jury convicted him after a trial.

The judge said McDonald would not have acted as he did but for his use of drugs and he added that the attack was carried out to subdue his mother so that her son could satisfy his sexual urges.