Latest news with #JakeSaunders
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Family of pensioner beaten to death by thug slam killer's 'insulting' sentence
Vile Jake Saunders starts his first full day behind bars today but the family of his brave victim, Anthony Jacob, say they are 'disgusted' by the length of his sentence The family of a brave pensioner who was beaten to death by a vicious thug say they are "disgusted and insulted" by the sentence handed to his killer. Anthony Jacob confronted drunken Jake Saunders when he found him jumping up and down on a Volkswagen van in the street. The 19-year-old turned on Mr Jacob and spent 10 minutes brutally beating him in a barbaric attack. The 75-year-old had every bone in his face broken leaving him unrecognisable to his own family. Saunders was handed a life sentence for murder but told he will serve a minimum 15 years before he can be considered for parole. But Mr Jacob's daughter Tina stormed out of the court in disgust at the sentence. Afterwards she slammed the justice system and said the sentence was an insult to her father. She said: "There is absolutely no peace here, he should've got a lot more, it's an insult to my innocent dad, he did nothing wrong. Disgusted." The 'utterly brutal and senseless' attack happened on December 10 last year on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, Dorset. Saunders was drunk and upset at the time after his girlfriend had split up with him that day. He took out his anger by smashing up a random VW Transporter van. Mr Jacob, a retired bricklayer and much-loved community stalwart, was walking home from the pub at the time and tried to stop Saunders. Edward Culver, prosecuting, said: "[A witness] saw Jake Saunders throwing Anthony Jacob against the van before pushing him down, punching him on the floor, kicked him in the face. "He stamped on his head before repeatedly jumping on his head. At one point he bent down, grabbing him and throwing his head down on the floor. By then Mr Jacob was no longer moving, he didn't retaliate to the onslaught he faced. "Jake Saunders repeatedly picked him up and slammed him back down to the ground." Mr Jacob had a total of 30 different injuries and suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene. He was taken to hospital but died from his injuries nine days later. Saunders was arrested a short time after the attack and assaulted three police officers. He pleaded guilty to Mr Saunders' murder as well as three counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. Bournemouth Crown Court heard moving victim impact statements from several family members, including Mr Jacob's brother and daughters. His brother Gordon Jacob said "there's no justice, just pain". He said: "I couldn't have wished for a better brother. But my precious memories are now all tainted by how he died. "n the end, those things I loved and respected of him got him killed. "When they took us to see him I told them they had taken us to the wrong bed. I had no recognition of the man in front of me." Daughter Teresa Green said: "My dad was a good man, who enjoyed a simple life. He never did any one any harm. He was just walking home and doing the right thing. He did nothing to deserve what happened to him. "I couldn't recognise my own dad. His face, so swollen and bruised, will haunt me for ever. It is completely sickening." Nick Robinson, defending, said Saunders was genuinely remorseful. He read a letter written by Saunders to the court and Mr Jacob's family which said: "I am truly sorry for my disgusting actions. I'm sorry for taking his life and destroying your family. Every day I wish I could go back and change what has happened, not for myself, but for you." Judge Susan Evans KC said: "The loss of Tony Jacob has been utterly devastating to his family. There's nothing this court can do that can begin to make up for his tragic loss. "He did what a particularly courageous and decent member of the public would do when presented with someone carrying out wanton criminal damage. Despite being 75 years of age, he challenged you. He was walking away when you cowardly attacked him from behind. He was plainly unconscious and unresponsive." She said Saunders did pose a high risk of danger to the public and handed him a life sentence in a young offenders' institute with a minimum of 15 years before he is eligible to be considered for release.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Man jailed for 'senseless' murder of 75-year-old in Weymouth
A man who murdered an elderly man after being challenged for damaging a van has been jailed for Saunders, 19, attacked 75-year-old Anthony Jacob in Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, Dorset, on 10 December 2024. He later died in from the town, admitted murder and three counts of assaulting an emergency worker at a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court in the sentencing on Monday, Mr Jacob's family thanked emergency services for helping him, and the witnesses who came forward. Saunders, who was arrested in Newstead Road following the attack, assaulted three police officers while in Jacob was airlifted to hospital but died from his injuries on 19 who also admitted two counts of criminal damage, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years. A spokesperson for Mr Jacob's family thanked police, paramedics, the air ambulance and staff at Southampton General Hospital, saying: "You did everything you could to save him and you cared for him with dignity and respect."As a family you gave us the chance to be with him, to hold his hand one last time and to say our final goodbyes."The family also said they would be "forever grateful" to the "brave witnesses who came forward". 'Pure evil' The spokesperson said Mr Jacob's death had been "devastating" to many people and hundreds had attended his said: "Dad was an honest, hardworking man with a really kind soul and he didn't deserve what happened to him."Life will never be the same without him and no sentence will ever be enough for what Jake Saunders did. It was pure evil."Det Ch Insp Neil Third, of Dorset Police, described the attack as "senseless and unprovoked", adding: "Our thoughts will remain with Anthony's family and friends." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Telegraph
Teenager killed pensioner who caught him jumping on van
A teenager who beat to death a pensioner who challenged him for jumping on a van has been jailed for life. Anthony Jacobs, 75, tried to challenge drunken 19-year-old Jake Saunders when he caught him jumping on a Volkswagen van in his street. Saunders responded by launching a 10-minute assault which left Mr Jacobs's family unable to recognise his face. He knocked his victim to the ground and stamped on him during the attack on December 10 last year. The teenager also lifted Mr Jacobs's head and slammed it onto the concrete on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, Dorset, even after he had lost consciousness. Mr Jacobs, a retired bricklayer, had every bone in his face broken, with 30 different injuries and suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene. His brother told hospital staff they must have taken them to the wrong bed because he could not recognise him. Mr Jacobs was placed in an induced coma but died nine days later. Saunders, who was drunk and upset at the time after his girlfriend had just split up with him, was arrested a short time after the attack. While in custody, he assaulted two police officers and an ambulance paramedic, who suffered a broken jaw. Saunders pleaded guilty to Mr Jacobs's murder as well as three counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. He was on Monday jailed for life with a minimum prison sentence of 15 years. Saunders's girlfriend told police he was already drunk at 4pm when she met him and ended their relationship. Challenged his behaviour A few hours later, he was seen in Abbotsbury Road 'taking out his anger' on a VW Transporter van, snapping off windscreen wipers, a wing mirror and then jumping on the bonnet. Mr Jacobs was walking home from the pub when he challenged Saunders about his behaviour. The pensioner was walking away from Saunders when he was first hit. Edward Culver, prosecuting, said: '[A witness] saw Jake Saunders throwing Anthony Jacobs against the van before pushing him down, punching him on the floor, kicking him in the face. 'He stamped on his head before repeatedly jumping on his head. At one point, he bent down, grabbing him and throwing his head down on the floor. By then, Mr Jacobs was no longer moving, he didn't retaliate to the onslaught he faced. 'Jake Saunders repeatedly picked him up and slammed him back down to the ground.' 'Apparently unbothered' Bournemouth Crown Court heard Saunders then walked away 'apparently unbothered' by what he had just done and continued to vandalise other vehicles, including jumping on a VW Golf 'like it was a trampoline'. He was seen by a member of the public trying to hide in a bush as police approached and then attacked three police officers as they tried to arrest him. The court heard Mr Jacobs's injuries included multiple fractures to his nose, jaw and eye socket and damage to his neck that led to the cardiac arrest and resulting brain injury. He also had a broken shoulder blade 'from the force of the blows' and six broken ribs. The court heard victim impact statements from several family members, including Mr Jacobs's brother and daughters. Daughter Teresa Green said: 'My dad was a good man, who enjoyed a simple life. He never did anyone any harm. It was important to him to work hard and do the right thing and he was always willing to help anybody. 'He was just walking home and doing the right thing. He did nothing to deserve what happened to him. 'I couldn't recognise my own dad. His face, so swollen and bruised, will haunt me forever. It is completely sickening.' Nick Robinson, defending, said Saunders was genuinely remorseful and understood he deserved a life sentence. 'Senseless violence' He read a letter written by Saunders to the court and Mr Jacobs's family which said: 'I am truly sorry for my disgusting actions. I'm sorry for taking his life and destroying your family. Every day I wish I could go back and change what has happened, not for myself, but for you.' Judge Susan Evans KC described it as 'utterly brutal and senseless violence' towards a 'kind-hearted, caring and hardworking' man. She said: 'The loss of Tony Jacobs has been utterly devastating to his family. There's nothing this court can do that can begin to make up for his tragic loss. 'He did what a particularly courageous and decent member of the public would do when presented with someone carrying out wanton criminal damage. Despite being 75 years of age, he challenged you. 'He was walking away when you cowardly attacked him from behind. 'He was plainly unconscious and unresponsive.' Judge Evans said Saunders posed a high risk of danger to the public and handed him a life sentence in a young offenders' institute with a minimum of 15 years before he is eligible to be considered for release.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Drunk thug who broke every bone in pensioner's face because he was upset girlfriend dumped him is jailed for 15 years for murder
A vicious thug who broke every bone in a pensioner's face - leaving the victim unrecognisable to his own family - has been jailed for life for his murder. Good Samaritan Anthony Jacobs, 75, bravely tried to challenge drunken 19-year-old Jake Saunders when he caught him jumping on a Volkswagen van in his street But drunken Saunders - who was upset at being dumped by his girlfriend that afternoon - launched into a savage 10 minute assault during which he knocked Mr Jacobs to the ground and kicked and stamped on him. He repeatedly lifted his head and slammed it onto the concrete even after he had lost consciousness. Mr Jacobs, a retired bricklayer, had every bone in his face broken, with 30 different injuries, and suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene. His own brother told hospital staff they must have taken them to the wrong bed because he could not recognise him. Mr Jacobs was placed in an induced coma but his injuries were not survivable and he died nine days later. Saunders was arrested a short time after the attack. He assaulted two police officers and an ambulance paramedic who suffered a broken jaw while in custody. Saunders pleaded guilty to Mr Saunders' murder as well as three counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. He was today jailed for life with a minimum prison sentence of 15 years. The brutal attack happened on December 10 last year on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, Dorset. Saunders' girlfriend told police he was already drunk at 4pm when she met him and ended their relationship. A few hours later he was seen in Abbotsbury Road 'taking out his anger' on a VW Transporter van - snapping off windscreen wipers, a wing mirror and then jumping on the bonnet. Mr Jacobs was walking home from the pub when he challenged Saunders about his behaviour. The pensioner was walking away from Saunders when he was first hit. Edward Culver, prosecuting, said a witness 'saw Jake Saunders throwing Anthony Jacobs against the van before pushing him down, punching him on the floor' and then kicking him in the face. The barrister added: 'He stamped on his head before repeatedly jumping on his head. 'At one point he bent down, grabbing him and throwing his head down on the floor. By then Mr Jacobs was no longer moving, he didn't retaliate to the onslaught he faced. 'Jake Saunders repeatedly picked him up and slammed him back down to the ground.' Bournemouth Crown Court heard Saunders then walked away 'apparently unbothered' by what he had just done and continued to vandalise other vehicles - including jumping on a VW Golf 'like it was a trampoline'. He was seen by a member of the public trying to hide in a bush as police sirens approached and then attacked three police officers as they tried to arrest him. The court heard Mr Jacobs' injuries included multiple fractures to his nose, jaw and eye socket and damage to his neck that led to the cardiac arrest and resulting brain injury. He also had a broken shoulder blade 'from the force of the blows' and six broken ribs. The court heard moving victim impact statements from several family members, including Tony's brother and daughters. Daughter Teresa Green said: 'My dad was a good man, who enjoyed a simple life. He never did any one any harm. It was important to him to work hard and do the right thing and he was always willing to help anybody. 'He was just walking home and doing the right thing. He did nothing to deserve what happened to him. 'I couldn't recognise my own dad. His face, so swollen and bruised, will haunt me for ever. It is completely sickening.' Nick Robinson, defending, said Saunders was genuinely remorseful and understands he deserves a life sentence. He read a letter written by Saunders to the court and Mr Jacobs' family which said: 'I am truly sorry for my disgusting actions. I'm sorry for taking his life and destroying your family. Every day I wish I coudl go back and change what has happened, not for myself, but for you.' Judge Susan Evans KC described it as 'utterly brutal and senseless violence' towards a 'kind-hearted, caring and hardworking' man. She said: 'The loss of Tony Jacobs has been utterly devastating to his family. There's nothing this court can do that can begin to make up for his tragic loss.' Addressing Saunders, the judge continued: 'He did what a particularly courageous and decent member of the public would do when presented with someone carrying out wanton criminal damage. Despite being 75 years of age, he challenged you. 'He was walking away when you cowardly attacked him from behind. 'He was plainly unconscious and unresponsive.' She said he did pose a high risk of danger to the public and handed him a life sentence in a young offenders' institute with a minimum of 15 years before he is eligible to be considered for release.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
Tribute to 'beloved grandad' who died after assault
The family of a 75-year-old man who died after an assault in December have paid tribute to a "beloved dad, grandad and brother". Anthony Jacob sustained injuries during an incident on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, Dorset, on 10 December, Dorset Police said. He died in hospital nine days later. Nineteen-year-old Jake Saunders has been charged with his murder, and will appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on 7 March. In a statement released through Dorset Police, Mr Jacob's family said they were "devastated" by his death. "His life was tragically lost too soon and has left his family and friends heartbroken," they said. "He was a beloved dad, grandad and brother, his sudden passing has left a void in our lives that can never be filled, our hearts are shattered, and our only comfort is the memories we have. "He was well known and highly respected in the town, where he lived all his life, and his kindness left a mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. "The community and his many friends have been left in shock and sadness at his passing. "He will be remembered, forever missed and loved always." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Man in his 70s dies in hospital after assault Dorset Police
