Mum of Bulkington man who killed his own grandfather say they 'live in fear' for his release
He reportedly shouted 'shut up' as she spoke to the court. A jury found Walpole guilty of manslaughter after the 33-year-old, who had spent the day drinking and went to watch a Coventry City FC match, attacked his grandfather John Brown in the pensioner's home in in St James Garden.
Judge Kristina Montgomery KC sentenced the School Road resident and said: "(Mr Brown) was an exceptionally small man in deteriorating physical health who had been diagnosed with dementia."
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She added: "Your visits (to Mr Brown's home) were made to exploit his love… by taking money from both your grandparents to fund your lifestyle. You were an intimidating and persistent nuisance in their lives."
The court heard that on the night Walpole attacked his grandfather, Mr Brown 'stood up to' the defendant who was asking for money, before the elderly man was struck to the head.
Footage of Jakob Walpole's every move before attack
As Walpole repeatedly said 'shut up' from the dock, his mother Lynda Brown read a victim impact statement to the court, which said: "The tears we have shed could fill buckets and I live with the knowledge my son caused the death of my beloved father.
'Even though he's been in prison, we are still in fear. Mum is terrified he will be back knocking at the door or her bedroom window. She lives in this fear constantly and we fear the day he's released again.'
Mr Brown was well known in the local community, having run a successful car panel and body repair business thanks to his expertise in respect of vintage cars.
Opening the Crown's case last month, 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.
Police pieced CCTV footage of his every move in the hours leading up to the attack and it showed that Walpole bought a small bottle of vodka from a shop in Bulkington at about 9am, before attending a match at Coventry Building Society Arena.
After attacking his grandfather, Walpole was caught on CCTV at Bulkington Working Men's club smashing a pint glass over the back of a club member's head. He then went on to assault a bar worker while he was being physically removed from the club.
During the trial, the court heard how Mr Brown's daughter installed security cameras at her parents' home because of Walpole's 'deteriorating' behaviour, and the pensioner was recorded in a 'haunting' video gesturing for help towards the camera before the attack.
The prosecutor said at the beginning of the defendant's trial: 'The reality is that on the 23rd of November, in drink, Jakob Walpole descended to a tirade of violence.'
Jurors found Walpole guilty of manslaughter, breaching a restraining order and two counts of assault, but cleared him of murder after a three-week trial. He was given a 15 year prison sentence with a further two years on extended licence.
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