Latest news with #RyanRobbins
BBC News
28-07-2025
- BBC News
Pensioner killed after being 'lured to front door by two men'
A pensioner who was fatally injured during a robbery in his own home was lured to the front door by a man pretending to be someone he knew, a court has heard. Stephen Ridgeway, 72, answered the door when the man said his name was "Matty", one of the pensioner's acquaintances, Bristol Crown Court was heard that Mr Ridgeway died in hospital more than a month after the ensuing attack in Keynsham, near Bristol, in the early hours of 3 November 2024. Wayne Milsom, 50, and Ryan Robbins, 34, both of Keynsham, are charged with murder, manslaughter and burglary. They have admitted being present, but deny the charges, claiming they acted in self-defence. Prosecutor Anna Vigars KC told the court that after Mr Ridgeway opened the door, both men ransacked the house, demanding drugs. She said they assaulted the pensioner so severely that he never Ridgeway was taken to hospital that morning with six fractured ribs and breathing difficulties, and died on December 7 despite being transferred to intensive care. 'Blood on knives' The court heard he suffered from a pre-existing lung condition, which made him particularly vulnerable to chest trauma.A pathologist also found signs of injury that did not match a simple fall. Inside the house, police discovered jars of flour spilt across the kitchen, cupboards emptied and bottles of Hennessy cognac among the items was found on a hammer, a champagne bottle and two knives, jurors were told. The victim's lodger, Ben Haughton, denied selling drugs and told police he had gone to bed early and was woken only when he heard officers arrive at the Ridgeway is said to have suggested to police that one of the men may have previously pushed him into a hedge – an incident linked to Mr Robbins, jurors were told. Mr Milsom gave a prepared statement to police in which he claimed he had gone to the house to buy drugs and was invited said Mr Ridgeway became irritated and pulled a knife on him, leading to a struggle in which he disarmed the victim and pushed him away in told police: "All of my actions were in lawful self-defence, as I genuinely feared for my safety."Mr Robbins gave no comment in interview but accepts he was present at the time. Ms Vigars set out the prosecution's case to the jury, telling them that Mr Milsom and Mr Robbins were "the aggressors", and while the former may have "used more violence, the latter was there to "spur him on".The trial continues.
The Independent
28-07-2025
- The Independent
Men gave false name to lure pensioner to door before killing him, court told
A pensioner was lured to his door by a man pretending to be someone he knew before being beaten, robbed and left fatally injured, a court has heard. Stephen Ridgeway, 72, died in hospital more than a month after the attack at his home in Keynsham, near Bristol, in the early hours of November 3 last year. He was assaulted by Wayne Milsom, 50, and Ryan Robbins, 34, who had forced their way in to steal drugs, jurors at Bristol Crown Court heard on Monday. At the door, one of the men said his name was 'Matty' – an acquaintance of Mr Ridgeway's, leading him to open the door. Prosecutor Anna Vigars KC said both men went on to ransack the house, demand drugs and assault Mr Ridgeway so severely that he never recovered. They are charged with murder, manslaughter and burglary. Both admit being present but claim they acted in self-defence. Mr Ridgeway was taken to hospital that morning with six fractured ribs and breathing difficulties, and died on December 7 despite being transferred to intensive care. 'He was, despite all the care, unable to recover from those injuries and in the end died of those injuries and their complications,' Ms Vigars said. The court heard he suffered from a pre-existing lung condition, which made him particularly vulnerable to chest trauma. A pathologist found bruising to his ear and other signs of injury that did not match a simple fall. Inside the house, police discovered jars of flour spilt across the kitchen, cupboards emptied and bottles of Hennessy among the items taken. Blood was found on a hammer, a champagne bottle and two knives, jurors were told. Ms Vigars said: 'This was a visit paid by those who were clearly intent on achieving something – we say, intent on getting their hands on the drugs they believed were in the house.' The victim's lodger, Ben Haughton, denied selling drugs and told police he had gone to bed early and was only woken when he heard officers arrive at the house. When he went downstairs, he found Mr Ridgeway with clear injuries and sat with him while he gave an account to police. Mr Ridgeway is said to have suggested one of the men may have previously pushed him into a hedge – an incident linked to Robbins, jurors were told. Milsom gave a prepared statement to police in which he claimed he had gone to the house to buy drugs and was invited in. He said Mr Ridgeway became irritated and pulled a knife on him, leading to a struggle in which he disarmed the victim and pushed him away in self-defence. He told police: 'All of my actions were in lawful self-defence, as I genuinely feared for my safety.' Robbins gave no comment in interview but accepts he was present at the time. Ms Vigars said: 'The prosecution position is that it was Mr Milsom who went into the house, with the encouragement and assistance of Mr Robbins, in order to steal, probably to try to find drugs. 'Those two were the aggressors. 'Mr Milsom may have been the one who used more violence but Mr Robbins was there to provide him with encouragement – to spur him on, if you like. 'Mr Robbins's presence meant it was two against one from Mr Ridgeway's point of view.' The trial continues.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Yahoo
Men gave false name to lure pensioner to door before killing him, court told
A pensioner was lured to his door by a man pretending to be someone he knew before being beaten, robbed and left fatally injured, a court has heard. Stephen Ridgeway, 72, died in hospital more than a month after the attack at his home in Keynsham, near Bristol, in the early hours of November 3 last year. He was assaulted by Wayne Milsom, 50, and Ryan Robbins, 34, who had forced their way in to steal drugs, jurors at Bristol Crown Court heard on Monday. At the door, one of the men said his name was 'Matty' – an acquaintance of Mr Ridgeway's, leading him to open the door. Prosecutor Anna Vigars KC said both men went on to ransack the house, demand drugs and assault Mr Ridgeway so severely that he never recovered. They are charged with murder, manslaughter and burglary. Both admit being present but claim they acted in self-defence. Mr Ridgeway was taken to hospital that morning with six fractured ribs and breathing difficulties, and died on December 7 despite being transferred to intensive care. 'He was, despite all the care, unable to recover from those injuries and in the end died of those injuries and their complications,' Ms Vigars said. The court heard he suffered from a pre-existing lung condition, which made him particularly vulnerable to chest trauma. A pathologist found bruising to his ear and other signs of injury that did not match a simple fall. Inside the house, police discovered jars of flour spilt across the kitchen, cupboards emptied and bottles of Hennessy among the items taken. Blood was found on a hammer, a champagne bottle and two knives, jurors were told. Ms Vigars said: 'This was a visit paid by those who were clearly intent on achieving something – we say, intent on getting their hands on the drugs they believed were in the house.' The victim's lodger, Ben Haughton, denied selling drugs and told police he had gone to bed early and was only woken when he heard officers arrive at the house. When he went downstairs, he found Mr Ridgeway with clear injuries and sat with him while he gave an account to police. Mr Ridgeway is said to have suggested one of the men may have previously pushed him into a hedge – an incident linked to Robbins, jurors were told. Milsom gave a prepared statement to police in which he claimed he had gone to the house to buy drugs and was invited in. He said Mr Ridgeway became irritated and pulled a knife on him, leading to a struggle in which he disarmed the victim and pushed him away in self-defence. He told police: 'All of my actions were in lawful self-defence, as I genuinely feared for my safety.' Robbins gave no comment in interview but accepts he was present at the time. Ms Vigars said: 'The prosecution position is that it was Mr Milsom who went into the house, with the encouragement and assistance of Mr Robbins, in order to steal, probably to try to find drugs. 'Those two were the aggressors. 'Mr Milsom may have been the one who used more violence but Mr Robbins was there to provide him with encouragement – to spur him on, if you like. 'Mr Robbins's presence meant it was two against one from Mr Ridgeway's point of view.' The trial continues.
