Grandson jailed 15 years for killing frail grandfather

5 godzin temu
John Brown died after suffering head injuries (Warwickshire Police/PA) Warwickshire Police

A drinker who killed his frail and vulnerable grandfather before assaulting two victims at a working men's club has been jailed for 15 years. Jakob Walpole attacked 81-year-old John Brown at his home on the night of November 23 last year, leading to the pensioner's death six days later.

Warwick Crown Court heard that well-known Jaguar restoration expert Brown was an "exceptionally small man in deteriorating physical health" who had been diagnosed with dementia. Walpole, 33, of School Road, Bulkington, Warwickshire, was found guilty of manslaughter, breaching a restraining order and two counts of assault after a three-week trial.

Judge condemns exploitation of grandfather

Judge Kristina Montgomery KC sentenced Walpole to 15 years in prison with a further two years on extended licence on Monday. The defendant sat in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit with his head down as the judge told him his visits to Brown's home were made to "exploit his love by taking money from both your grandparents to fund your lifestyle".

The court heard that on the night of the attack, Brown "stood up to" Walpole who was asking for money, before the elderly man was struck to the head. Walpole repeatedly said "shut up" from the dock while his mother Lynda Brown read a victim impact statement to the court.

Family lives in constant fear

Ms Brown told the court: "The tears we have shed could fill buckets and I live with the knowledge my son caused the death of my beloved father." She said the family remained terrified despite Walpole being in prison, with his grandmother living "in this fear constantly" that he would return to knock at her door or bedroom window.

Brown was well known in the local community, having run a successful car panel and body repair business thanks to his expertise with vintage cars. His daughter had installed security cameras at her parents' home in St James Gardens, Bulkington, because of Walpole's "deteriorating" behaviour.

CCTV captured haunting final moments

The pensioner was recorded in a "haunting" video gesturing for help towards the camera before the attack. Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said Walpole had been "drinking throughout the day" and committed two assaults at Bulkington Working Men's Club around an hour after attacking his grandfather.

Walpole bought a small bottle of vodka from a shop in Bulkington at about 9am, before attending a match at Coventry City's home stadium in the afternoon. After attacking his grandfather, he smashed a pint glass over the back of a club member's head in an incident caught on "clearest possible" CCTV footage, before assaulting a bar worker while being physically removed from the club.

The prosecutor said at the beginning of the trial: "The reality is that on the 23rd of November, in drink, Jakob Walpole descended to a tirade of violence." Jurors cleared Walpole of murder but found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.

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