Man denies murdering his ‘world-renowned' Jaguar restoration expert grandfather
A man has denied murdering his grandfather, a 'world-renowned' Jaguar restoration expert, who died following an alleged assault.
John Brown, 82, died in hospital on November 29 last year, six days after police were called to his home in Bulkington, near Coventry.
At Warwick Crown Court on Thursday, his grandson Jakob Walpole, 32, of School Road in Bulkington, pleaded not guilty to Mr Brown's murder.
He also pleaded not guilty to breaching a restraining order on November 23, and assault by beating and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to an incident at Bulkington Working Men's Club in which a customer and a member of staff were allegedly attacked the same day.
Judge Sylvia de Bertodano said Walpole would face a three-week trial starting on July 7.
She told the defendant he must put together a defence statement before his trial.
She said: 'It is your opportunity to tell your side of the story so please make sure what is in your defence statement is as full as possible.
'You will be brought back for a hearing in the first week of May. In the meantime, you are remanded into custody. You may go.'
Mr Brown was the founder of the company Leaping Cats, which built and restored Jaguars, including the XK series, with his family saying his reputation in the industry was 'unmatched', which earned him 'respect and admiration across the globe'.
In a tribute released after his death, they said: 'It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved, John Brown, a man whose kindness, generosity and passion touched the lives of everyone who knew him.
'John was not only a loving husband, father and grandfather, but also a true gentleman, a pillar of the community and a world-renowned figure in the Jaguar restoration industry.'
They added: 'As a father, he guided his children with wisdom and affection, and as a grandfather he was the heart of the family, creating memories filled with warmth, laughter and love.
'His ability to bring light to any room made him a cherished presence in his family, his community and beyond.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Couple are forced to steal back their own car after police refuse to investigate despite AirTag pinpointing its EXACT location
A couple whose Jaguar was stolen were forced to steal it back after police took too long to investigate. Mia Forbes Pirie and Mark Simpson discovered their car had gone missing from near their west London home in Brook Green on Wednesday morning. The pair had it fitted with an airtag locator meaning they were able to track the vehicle to an updated location in Chiswick at 10.30am. But police informed them after dialling 999 that they did not know when they would be able to investigate and so could not offer immediate assistance. The couple took matters into their own hands when Ms Pirie, 48, discovered the airtag had last pinged on the road outside their home at around 3.20am. The Jaguar E-Pace - a model that sold for about £46,000 new in 2024 - also had a 'ghost immobiliser' fitted which required the right buttons to be hit on the car's control unit before it could start. Mr Simpson, 62, reported being nervous as he made the four-mile journey with his wife to the car's new location. The pair discovered the vehicle on a quiet back street with its interior and carpets ripped apart by thieves who had attempted to access its wiring. Forbes Pirie, a former solicitor and now an award-winning mediator, and Mr Simpson, a commercial barrister, had installed a series of additional security mechanisms on the car after previously experiencing the theft of a vehicle. They said they thought the theft operation on their Jaguar must have been 'reasonably sophisticated' and likely involved a tow or flat-bed truck. Neighbours later reported they had heard unusual noises at night. In a post to LinkedIn, Ms Forbes Pirie admitted it was 'kind of fun' stealing back the car but questioned 'why we should have had to do that'. She added: '[Is] it right that the police seem to have no interest in investigating what is likely to have been a reasonably sophisticated operation involving a flat bed truck… if there are no consequences, what is the incentive for people not to do more of this?' But speaking to The Times afterwards Ms Forbes Pirie said she thought it was a lack of resourcing that had affected the Met's ability to respond. She said: 'The police are under-resourced and it's a shame. But if there aren't any consequences to people stealing cars or a lot of the other crimes where there aren't any consequences, then I don't really see what the deterrent is to stop people from doing it more.' Official Met Police figures show there were 33,530 offences of 'theft or unauthorised taking' of a motor vehicle in London in 2024 - a 1.6 per cent increase on the previous year. There were 326 'positive outcomes - which can include a charge or caution - representing a success rate of below one per cent.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Chris Brown's 'crazy tour budget' as he returns to the stage after UK arrest
Chris Brown has returned to the stage for the first time since his arrest in the UK as the singer entertained crowds at a concert in Amsterdam's Johan Cruyff Arena Chris Brown's fans reacted as the singer returned to the stage following his UK arrest last month. The singer was in Amsterdam to kick off his Breezy Bowl XX tour, which is celebrating 20 years of his career. Followers of the controversial star took to social media to share snippets from the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam which showed an impressive stage set up. Among his lavish designs was a huge human statue that toward over the surrounding, which the star is thought to have performed on. Uploading a clip to Twitter/X, one user wrote: "the budget for this chris brown tour is crazy, he's not playing about his 20 years of career," followed by a flame emoji. Another said: "Oh my GOD," as they showcased the set up in their own video. And a third added an image of the statue with the crowd looking up at the performer. His Amsterdam gig comes after he was arrested in the UK last month. His arrest came after he was accused of using a bottle to cause bodily harm to music producer Abe Diaw during a night out at London's Tape nightclub in Mayfair on February 19, 2023. On May 15 this year, Brown was arrested at the Lowry Hotel in Salford. He had recently jetted into nearby Manchester Airport to rehearse for his upcoming Breezy Bowl XX 20th anniversary tour. The singer has been charged with one count of grievous bodily harm. He was initially denied bail and is expected to appear in person at Southwark Crown Court next month. District Judge Joanna Hirst told the court that the charge was too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates ' court. However, the 36-year-old star was later granted bail following a court plea. He was ordered to pay a £5 million security fee to the court. The financial guarantee is to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions. His lawyer, Grace Forbes, had argued that he was a public figure known worldwide as they pleaded for bail to be granted. As well as his Amsterdam performance, Brown is scheduled to perform in cities across the UK, including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Cardiff. Despite his arrest, Brown's bail conditions enable him to continue with his scheduled international tour this year, including in the UK later this month and July. Following his release on bail, the American singer took to Instagram to tell his 144million followers: "From the cage to the stage!!! Breezybowl." Brown's bold post was seemingly in reference to the fact his bail conditions allow him to honour his tour commitments and perform across Europe ahead of his court date next month.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
'Look at what they've done': Bollywood star's anguish after brazen thieves smash into her Jaguar to steal her Louis Vuitton bags in lawless London
A famous Bollywood star has told of her anguish after falling victim to London's theft crimewave when brazen crooks smashed into her Jaguar to steal two designer bags. Heartbroken Sunanda Sharma, 33, said she has lost 'everything' after thieves broke into her 2016 Jaguar F-Pace to steal her swanky pair of Louis Vuitton bags. Despairing model Sharma, who has starred in a number of hit films and is also a well-known singer, had left her motor in a car park in the capital when it was ransacked. The actress, who has struggled to sleep since the incident, broke the news of the raid in a video to her nine million-strong army of fans on Instagram 'I'm in here in London and this is the car's situation now,' says Sharma, as she inspects the battered remains of the black Jag. Appearing to put on a brave face, the star walks around the battered motor - which had its back window and rear passenger window smashed out. 'They've broken the glass and everything else,' she continues in Hindi. 'The expensive LV bags I've worked so hard to afford are gone. 'What a tragedy. Those were my favourite bags. Both of them. Look what they've done.' Holding her head in her hand, she then continues in English, saying: 'Everything is gone.' In a caption on the video, the Bollywood star added she had been left traumatised by the break-in. 'The moment I saw a bit of money, it left me I have no words for you, people of the UK. I couldn't sleep all night,' she wrote. The celebrity has since received an outpouring of sympathy from her loyal followers, with one saying: 'Love how you have managed to keep the smile on your face despite of that pain within.' Another supporter adds: 'If vibes were a storm, you'd be the thunder and lightning, illuminating everything around you! Your presence is truly electrifying!' While a third bluntly said: 'Welcome to London.' The theft come amid an on-going crimespree blighting the city, which has seen fearless thieves raiding cars in some of London's most exclusive streets. In March, a masked cyclist broke into the boot of a Tesla parked in Knightsbridge and stole a Stone Island jacket worth more than £1,000 - which had only just been purchased from the Harrods department store. In another broad daylight raid, a hooded figure was filmed snatching bags of designer goods after breaking into a Mercedes-Benz parked near Harrods. Hans Place, where the theft took place, boasts of deluxe apartments that can go for as much as £10.5million. Shocked onlookers watched in disbelief as the shameless crook swaggered away with his haul of stolen luxury goods, while a woman runs out of her house shouting 'oi!' as flees the scene. In another instance of theft, two masked cyclists smashed into the back of a car and stole a high-end designer jacket from the boot. Prepared with torches and face masks, the thieves smash into the motor and snatch a £1,500 jacket - even though a couple walking their dog stop just feet away. The Metropolitan Police said it understood 'the impact motor vehicle crime has on victims'. 'Incidents reported to police are assessed to ensure lines of enquiry, including forensic opportunities and footage, are progressed to hold offenders to account', they added. In February alone, 2,097 thefts were recorded in London's West End, which includes some of the capital's most exclusive areas including, Mayfair, Fitzrovia, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street. It comes as Jenson Button's wife revealed she now felt 'unsafe' walking the capital's streets after her suitcase rammed with £250,000 of lavish jewellery and designer handbags was stolen outside of St Pancras station. The 34-year-old explained how the ex-Formula One driver was helping the chauffeur load the car when a man swooped in and sped away with her Goyard carry-on suitcase in mere seconds. The former Playboy model told MailOnline neither she nor her husband had any interest in returning to the UK after their ordeal, adding: 'It just feels so unsafe... and its just unfortunate because that's where my children's grandmother and aunts live.' In March, TV personality Jamie Laing revealed he had been robbed once again, just a week after his Notting Hill home was targeted by balaclava-wearing intruders. Shortly after the terrifying ordeal, where he and his wife Sophie Habboo, 30, were woken up to 6am by louds bangs, he discovered his car had been broken into. Speaking on his Radio 1 show, Jamie said: 'So, I live in London, I was with my wife Sophie and we went to get in our car. 'It's parked around the place we live, and it's London right, things maybe go missing occasionally or whatever. 'I walked up to the car, and the car looked a little bit funny, the door was slightly open, and I was like, 'hang on a second, has someone managed to get into the car?' 'Came up to the car and we had been robbed. They left the pineapple in one seat and the melon in another seat. I said to my wife, 'did you leave these in the car?' and she was like, 'no?', so I don't know if it's a sign or the mark they leave.' MailOnline has approached the Met Police for comment about the alleged theft of Ms Sharma's designer bags.
