Man jailed for 12 years after beating neighbour, 75, to death over a garden gate
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
A man who beat his neighbour to death over closing a garden gate has been jailed for 12 years.
Trevor Gocan attacked 79-year-old James O'Neill near their homes in Covent Garden, central London, last October.
He punched the pensioner so hard in the head that he suffered a bleed on the brain, and he died in hospital two weeks after the attack.
Gocan, 54, left Mr O'Neill bleeding on the ground near the home he had lived in for more than 40 years.
His wife Sara raised the alarm when Mr O'Neill failed to return home in time for their weekly Sunday roast. She looked over the balcony to see if she could spot him and found him on the ground.
Gocan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter last month and today he appearedat Southwark crown court where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Two thirds of his sentence will be served in prison before he can be considered for release on licence.
The pair argued after O'Neill left a gate open on their estate, before Gocan struck out at his elderly victim.
Gocan was on his way to buy a sandwich at Pret A Manger while Mr O'Neill was on his way to buy a newspaper and go for a walk to 'earn' his Sunday roast.
During the trial, Gocan claimed he acted in self defence. He also said after attacking Mr O'Neill he went home and fed his cat.
CCTV showed the attack lasted for less than 90 seconds before Mr O'Neill fell to the ground with serious injuries.
Judge Sally-Ann Hales KC said told Gocan: 'Your unlawful actions caused the death of Jim O'Neill, a much-loved father and grandfather.
'You did not need to defend yourself – the truth is, you lost your temper and control. You walked away. Mr O'Neill did not.
'He was much older than you. In his shorts and Crocs, he presented no serious threat. Had you genuinely felt threatened, you could have walked away.' More Trending
Mr and Mrs O'Neill were married for 49 years, and in a statement read in court his widow said he was 'not only my husband but my soulmate'.
She put their flat on the market, feeling unable to continue to live in the home they had shared.
Mrs O'Neill added: 'I feel depressed, often crying, haunted by dark thoughts.
'I struggle to sleep and have recurring nightmares witnessing the love of my life bleeding on the floor.'
Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
MORE: Six places which could be safe if World War Three erupts – including two in UK
MORE: Vietnam veteran's last words before execution after 47 years on death row
MORE: Manhunt for three men on the run after they escape from Springhill Prison
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
EFL star Kian Harratt breaks silence after lobbing chair at woman in Ibiza… but blames OTHER tourists for starting brawl
'I FEEL TERRIBLE' EFL star Kian Harratt breaks silence after lobbing chair at woman in Ibiza… but blames OTHER tourists for starting brawl EFL star Kian Harratt has broken his silence after being filmed throwing a chair at a woman in Ibiza. Oldham Athletic forward Kian Harratt, 23, was identified as the yob who seemed to launch one of several chairs during a poolside brawl. 3 A League Two footballer hurled a chair at a woman in Ibiza 3 A woman in a bikini was hit by a chair during the brawl 3 Oldham Athletic striker Kian Harratt was filmed throwing the chair Brit holidaymaker Kyle Crawford told The Sun the striker and three of his pals were "being horrible" to a group of women before the clash on June 21. And two videos captured the brawl, including one which appears to show the striker - wearing black shorts and with his distinctive goatee - launch a chair at one of them. The star footballer has now said he feels "very apologetic" and "terrible" that he hit her. But he blamed other tourists for starting the brawl. Harratt alleges that a man approached his friend and went on to "punch him", which made him feel he ahd to intervene. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Kim Kardashian's ‘grandpa robber' jewel thief dubbed ‘Blue Eyes' dies days after being sentenced over $10m kidnap heist
Kim recounted the traumatic robbery at trial earlier this year KIM THIEF DEAD Kim Kardashian's 'grandpa robber' jewel thief dubbed 'Blue Eyes' dies days after being sentenced over $10m kidnap heist Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KIM Kardashian's "grandpa robber" who stole millions worth of her jewellery in a terrifying Paris hotel room heist has died days after being sentenced. Didier Dubreucq, 69, suffered from lung cancer and had to be hospitalized during the trial for the 2016 armed robbery. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Didier Dubreucq has died at 69 3 Kim Kardashian had $10million of jewellery stolen off her Credit: AFP 3 A court sketch of Didier Dubreucq during the trial Credit: AFP He was sentenced to seven years in prison in May this year. The thief, dubbed "Blue Eyes", died from his illness on Thursday morning, according to the French authorities. The guilty verdict was handed down on May 23, but Dubreucq did not attend it. He always denied any involvement in the heist. Dubreucq said during interrogation: "There's a case of mistaken identity. "Contrary to appearances in this case, I have nothing to do with it." More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Runner chases after phone snatcher riding on e-bike in latest spate of thefts
Phone snatchers are still targeting poor Londoners just trying to go for their morning run, despite the Met's promise of a crackdown. London has seen an upturn in phone snatching in recent years, with victims targeted across visitor hotspots and busy streets. Latest footage shows a man running along when a thief, dressed in all black, pulls up onto the pavement on an e-bike near the river Thames. The bike, which has noticeably thick tyres, swerves off the road and onto the pavement with pedestrians. Soon enough, the man's phone is taken as he is mid-stride, making him stop in his tracks and hold his head in hands. And this man is one of thousands of victims in London. While the Met has made significant progress in stopping snatchers, it is clear more needs to be done. Adele Pearson has had her phone stolen twice while out and about. The TV producer had her phone first snatched by a man on an e-bike on London Bridge, followed by another theft in a pub just two months after the first incident. She told Metro previously: 'She said: 'I am a double victim, and it's frustrating it seems like work to stop the phone snatching is only just starting. 'I still don't walk down the streets the same way, if I see a tourist with their phone out I go up and warn them.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The phone-snatching epidemic has turned many Londoner into involuntary heroes as they have tried to stop thieves. Adele said a group of builders 'tried to chase the guy down for me but he got away' when she was targeted on London Bridge. Rutesh Durve was walking into Piccadilly Circus tube station when his phone was snatched straight out of his hands. He chased the thief down but realised it was too late, and just one week later his phone was in China. Rutesh, who works in stock markets, told Metro: 'I was walking down the steps and was checking a few messages and without any warning a guy on an e-bike wering a black hoodie and black clothes with his face covered and grabbed my phone. 'By the time I had realised what had happened he was so far away and it was very crowded. 'My wife started receiving messages pretending to be Apple, with fake links trying to get her to input my password – it was a sophisticated level of workmanship.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This week the Met announced they managed to arrest 10 people involved in phone snatching gangs with their new Flying Squad. On Thursday, 19 June eight men, aged between 20 and 31, and two 17-year-old boys were arrested at addresses in London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier, who is leading the investigation from the Met's Flying Squad, said: 'Phone robbery has boomed globally, and London is not immune. 'There is a concerted effort by criminal gangs to steal phones and sell them overseas as part of a multi-million-pound industry. Some 78,000 people had phones or bags stolen from them on British streets in the year to March 2024. That is a rise of more than 150% on the 31,000 'snatch thefts' in the 12 months before, according to data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales. Figures also show that four in five police investigations were closed before a suspect was even found and just 0.8% of 'theft from the person' complaints resulted in a charge. The government has pledged to crackdown on the scourge, with the Home Office saying it will work more closely with tech firms and police chiefs. In this year alone, 213 phones have already been stolen in the City of London. For the same period between 1 January and 30 April last year, there were 294 phone snatching reports. 'The Met is catching more of these criminals and operations such as this are vital to disrupting offenders who cause fear and misery to shop workers and communities.' More Trending The force also carried out a two week focus at the start of the year, leading to the arrests of 292 people. In footage released by the Metropolitan Police, one plain clothed police officer is seen spotting a phone snatcher, in a dark blue backwards baseball cap and black jacket in Oxford Circus. The thief had targeted an elderly person in the tourist hot spot, but one officer spotted the attack and tackled him to the ground in front of shocked pedestrians. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Champion jockey Oisin Murphy charged with drink driving after crash with tree MORE: 12 ways to spend London Pride 2025 including a day party with a performance from Nadine Coyle MORE: Man jailed for 12 years after beating neighbour, 75, to death over a garden gate
