Drug addict murdered Harold Monk, 94, in his Wolverhampton flat
The court was shown video footage of Mr Monk talking to police through an oxygen mask with severe bruises to his arms and face after being attacked on 3 October.He told detectives he awoke in the early hours to see a male figure wearing black clothes and a face covering."He must have jumped on top of me because I could feel his weight on my body and then he started [punching] my face," Mr Monk said in the video.A neighbour heard banging and groaning and alerted police.During the trial, jurors were told Topham, of Palmerston Road in Birmingham, had struggled with "out-of-control drug addiction" and had been known to commit burglaries to feed his habit.Giving evidence, he said he was "off his face" during the incident, but was repulsed by his actions and the hurt he had caused Mr Monk's family but insisted he was not a murderer.
The court heard Topham stayed the night at his mother's property the weekend before the incident, which is when the prosecution claimed he managed to get access to Mr Monk's flat in Inglewood Court.Topham's mother Janet Reznik said she only found out he had been arrested when the police knocked on her door.Paying tribute to Mr Monk, his daughter Patricia said he was "a wonderful human being who was loved dearly by his family and we think about him with sadness every day"."We miss his quirky sense of humour and his huge presence. We miss witnessing the fulfilment he found in everyday life, even at 94 years old, and he loved to see his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow."Det Insp Phil Poole said he hoped the conviction would ease some of the pain and sadness the family had endured."Mr Monk had every right to be safe in his own home and this was cruelly shattered by an appalling attack which stole a beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather from his loving family."
Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Apple and Google face calls to install 'kill switches' in mobile phones stolen by moped gangs to end resale market
Pressure is mounting on big tech companies to install remote 'kill switches' in mobile phones amid ongoing phone-theft epidemic. Senior Conservative politicians have urged the Labour Government to 'force' Apple and Google to end the criminal phone trade once and for all by rendering all stolen phones useless. Kill switches work by severing smartphones from the cloud once the devices have been reported to police as stolen. James Conway, who oversees Scotland Yard's phone-theft investigations, believes this will slash their market value on the black market, massively disincentivizing criminals from snatching them. This call to action comes after a Daily Mail investigation revealed that vulnerable youngsters are being groomed into stealing phones by county-lines gangs, which are then shipped abroad in bulk and sold around the world. Last night Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Daily Mail: 'The Labour Government is presiding over a crime epidemic - with phone theft rife. 'Mobile phone companies should urgently implement 'Kill Switches' which prevent stolen phones from accessing the cloud globally. 'Google and Apple claim to have antitheft measures but these are clearly completely ineffective. This call to action comes after a Daily Mail investigation revealed that vulnerable youngsters are being groomed into stealing phones by county-lines gangs, which are then shipped abroad in bulk and sold around the world. 'If companies like Apple continue to refuse to do this voluntarily then the Government must urgently legislate to force them, by amending the Crime and Policing bill. 'Implementing a 'Kill Switch' is vital and the Government should legislate to compel big tech companies to do this if they're not going to do it voluntarily.' Meanwhile, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Alicia Kearns added: 'A remote kill switch would reclaim our streets and better protect us all from the plague of phone thieves in our cities. 'This is the sort of initiative phone companies should be introducing to better protect their customers and help tackle organised crime.' Some 80,000 phones are stolen in London every year, with around 80 per cent of this bounty ending up abroad. Across the entire United Kingdom, around 230 mobile phones are stolen every single day. Speaking to the Daily Mail last week, Commander James Conway, who oversees Scotland Yard's phone-theft investigations, explained that a 'kill switch' would ensure that a 'the [stolen device] wouldn't operate as a smartphone any more and would have next to zero value in that market.' In response to the growing phone-theft crisis several cyber security companies such as Nuke From Orbit have been established to make it easier for users to safeguard their accounts. Nuke From Orbit allows users to block access to multiple services and accounts simultaneously after the user's phone has been stolen. James O'Sullivan, CEO and Founder of Nuke From Orbit explained: 'As our lives become more reliant on mobile phones, the need to be able to disavow that device when stolen increases exponentially.' A spokesperson for Google said: 'Google's top priority is the safety of its users, and we are proud to bring constantly evolving, industry-leading security technologies to Android. 'Our freely available anti-theft features help users to protect their devices before, during, and after a theft. 'Users in locations at risk of phone theft can simply switch them on and stay protected.'
The Sun
7 minutes ago
- The Sun
Woman found dead after man arrested over ‘armed robbery at Asda' as cops launch murder probe & fear 2 more victims
A MURDER investigation has been launched after police arrested an armed robber. A man was arrested yesterday evening after cops received reports of an armed robbery at Asda in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. 4 4 After taking the robber into custody he disclosed to officers that a woman he believed was dead was inside a property on Norfolk Street, Batley. Cops raced to the address to discover the body of a woman, formal identification is yet to take place. The man, who was arrested shortly before in connection with the robbery, was then arrested on suspicion of murder. Forensic specialists were seen at the address as they carried out their investigations. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector, Dan Bates of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: 'This is clearly a very serious incident, where a young woman has lost her life. 'There is a heightened police presence in Dewsbury today as we work to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident. "Our immediate priority is to identify and locate the two people and establish whether or not they have come to any harm. 'A murder investigation is also underway and we do not believe there is any wider risk to the public at this time. 'We recognise this inquiry will cause concern in the community; we are working closely with our colleagues in the local neighbourhood policing team, who have stepped up patrols in the town centre. 'I would like to appeal to anyone who may have information that would assist to come forward and speak to us. We are also looking for any CCTV, doorbell and dash cam footage people might have to help our investigation.' 4 4
The Sun
7 minutes ago
- The Sun
Friends of mom ‘killer' Sarah Patrick Grace defend teen's tear-soaked funeral speech that ‘tipped cops off to her crime'
THE teen TikToker accused of murdering her mom and stepdad is reportedly extremely scared in jail as family and friends defend the emotional funeral speech that resulted in police charging her. Sarah Grace Patrick, 17, is the main suspect following the deaths of Kristin and James Brock. 5 5 5 The couple was shot dead as they slept in Carrollton, west of Atlanta, on February 20, 2025, and their bodies were tragically discovered by Patrick's six-year-old sister. The teen has been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with the deaths. She posted videos and messages on social media, appearing to be distraught over their deaths. One of Patrick's TikTok posts reads, "They don't know it, but a year from now me and my 5-year-old sister would find them wrongfully shot dead in our home – and they won't get to watch me graduate high school, see me walk down the aisle, or even say goodbye. (sic)" She captioned the video, "I miss you guys, save a seat for me in heaven." Patrick also gave a heartfelt speech at their funeral that police felt was suspicious. The 17-year-old told mourners, "I'm sorry" at the end of the eulogy, a moment which has raised eyebrows. Patrick has now emerged as the prime suspect in the case, with Carroll County sheriffs claiming they have "mountains of evidence" against the teen. She reportedly learned police had a warrant for her arrest and went into the station with her father, who is supporting her. Family friend Carrie Jensen, who has known Patrick for years, is raising money for her legal fees. A public Facebook group with the name " I stand with Sarah Grace Patrick" also now has more than 300 members. Carrie told The U.S. Sun this week, "She has a lot of people who are standing up for her. She's extremely scared and maintaining her innocence. "I have known Sarah and her family since she was in Middle School. She and my daughter are best friends. "She was with us 4th of July weekend." Jensen also wrote on Facebook, "Sarah Grace did not just 'turn herself in' she was notified that she had warrants for her arrest and did exactly what she was told to do. "Her father walked his daughter into that police station not knowing what lied ahead for his child. "She never confessed to anything. She was working with the detectives to find the people who murdered her mom and stepdad. She trusted them because that is who she is! "Her apology at the funeral service was normal she would apologize over everything. Even if it wasn't her fault. 'She is very much just a child. No matter what! 'No one knows her background, her story or what she has gone through." Carrie claims she recently drove more than an hour but was told her visitation had been taken away, along with her phone privileges. She added, "This is unfair and unjust!" Dad Doniel Patrick's full statement on daughter's arrest "I just want to go on the record and say I know everybody is talking. "Many people were talking about things that they don't even know. They are just talking and writing about stuff that is completely false. "Taking pictures of me leaving church to go to visit my daughter. If you have time to follow me around walk up to me talk to me I will talk to you. "My daughter is 100% innocent. If you wanna talk to anybody about me and my daughter's relationship come straight to me. I'm not hiding. "I'm going to work and doing all the normal things that I have to do to support my son. Nobody knows my pain, but I choose to deal with it the way that I have to. "I don't want all of attention like everybody else. February 21 I had to come home and tell my son that his mother and his stepfather were dead. "It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Until I had to take my daughter to the sheriff's office, I did not turn her in. "She voluntarily went there because of the warrants.. She has nothing to hide. I'm not the type of person that gets on social media. "I don't even pay attention to most of it. The only social media I have is Facebook and it's been ruined by this entire situation. "People are quick to judge when they don't even have any info. I have as much info as everybody else so where are you getting your info from? "If it's the media then you all should know how the media portrays everything. It's not about the truth. It's about viewership they will say anything. "Some of the stuff that I have seen and some of the media outlets have reported good stuff. "A lot of of them have reported bad stuff without any facts just assumptions and talking to people that don't know nothing. "My heart goes out to the Brock family and Kristin's. I will speak when it's time. Right now, I am trying to focus on my daughter, my children. "Not what everybody else is focusing on believe me I'm living it. I don't have to see it. To everybody out there that has kids to everybody out there that's paying attention. "God bless each and everyone of you. I hope that you never have to go through an experience like this.. as Pastor Ben said this Sunday I'm ready bring it on goliath." Source: Facebook After setting up a GoFundMe account to raise funds for Patrick's legal fight, the page is no longer live. Jensen explained, "A new donation link will be posted soon. I am working with a lawyer friend of mine to make sure we follow all the rules and it not be taken down." Patrick's father, Doniel, took to Facebook to defend his daughter after she made national headlines. "Many people were talking about things that they don't even know," the dad fumed. "They are just talking and writing about stuff that is completely false." Doniel went on to claim that Patrick is "100% innocent" and encouraged any doubters to speak about the incident with him in person. Court documents seen by give an insight into Patrick's troubled childhood, which suggests her mom and stepdad were often taking drugs. Her dad filed for divorce from his wife, Kristin, in 2018 after a 10-year marriage, and he demanded joint legal custody of Patrick and her brother, Donnie, with "primary physical custody of the parties' minor child" and that any visits between his estranged wife and the children be supervised due to her alleged addiction issues. "The mother has unrehabilitated substance abuse issues and both she and her boyfriend fail to adequately provide a suitable drug-free environment for minor children," court docs read. They eventually agreed on joint legal custody, with primary physical custody given to Kristin, and Doniel seeing them on alternate weekends and holidays. Previously, the Brocks' loved ones offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. "This is so horrendous," Kristin's father Dennis Nolan told Atlanta News First back at the time. "You just can't imagine that someone would come in and just take the life of two good people." The deceased couple were popular in their local church community. Catalyst Church member Tasha Meza told Fox 5 Atlanta: "Kristin was bubbly and fun and she loved hugs. "She never met a stranger. And James, he was a comical kind of guy. He would always crack jokes and make you laugh." Patrick turned herself in earlier in July after police issued the warrant for her arrest following a months-long investigation. She is expected to be tried as an adult on the murder charges. The case is still an open investigation, and more arrests and charges are still possible, officials have said. Authorities are still searching for a motive for the murders.
