Latest news with #Warwickshire
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Man who killed his own grandfather, 81, in drunken attack is found guilty of manslaughter
A drunk who fatally attacked his own grandfather is filmed glassing a patron in a nearby working men's club less than an hour later – after the victim had confronted the killer for boasting about what he had done. The shocking footage of Jakob Walpole attacking drinker Dennis Hopton from behind was released by police as the 33-year-old was convicted of the manslaughter of his grandfather John Brown, a 'world-renowned' Jaguar restoration expert, after an all-day drinking session. Violent Walpole, who is also seen on CCTV footage arriving at Mr Brown's bungalow moments before he 'set about' the 81-year-old inside the property, was also convicted of the glass attack on Mr Hopton and assaulting a third man who had escorted him out of Bulkington Men's Club in Warwickshire after witnessing the glassing. Walpole, who lived in the village in a property owned by Mr Brown and his 'bedbound' wife Dorothy, will be sentenced on Monday. Jurors heard Mr Brown was well known in the village for running the local Leaping Cats workshop repairing vintage cars, but had recently been diagnosed with dementia. During the four-week trial, jurors had been shown 'haunting' footage of Mr Brown pleading for help on a security camera outside his bungalow last November – before he was then fatally attacked inside. Mr Brown was seen waving at the camera in his garden - which was 'linked to his daughter', Walpole's mother – before the pensioner went back inside the bungalow. Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, said: 'What's plain is that he was gesturing to the camera. 'The prosecution say he was aware his daughter may see and it was a gesture, a desire for assistance.' Less than four minutes later, Walpole was seen emerging from the property and from there headed to a village pub. He stayed at the hostelry for a matter of minutes before moving on to the working men's club. Police summoned to the Browns' bungalow by their daughter found the pensioner 'dazed and confused' and with significant injuries to his face and arms. Relatives then arrived at the house and his daughter accompanied him to hospital, but over the following hours Mr Brown suffered a bleed on the brain as a result of the blows he had suffered and he passed away six days later. Warwick Crown Court heard Walpole started drinking after buying a bottle of vodka shortly before 9am on the day of the attack. He then attended a Coventry City football match at lunchtime before spending his time either side of the attack on Mr Brown in local aleshouses. Jurors heard Walpole was confronted by Mr Hopton in the working men's club – where Mr Brown had been a regular - after boasting about 'lamping' his grandfather. The 'verbally abusive' Walpole 'ignored' the older man's pleas to moderate his language and continued to badger the drinker. Matters came to a head when Walpole took the victim's seat and then smashed a pint glass over the back of his head after being told to move. The attack caused cuts to Mr Hopton's ear, neck and head and Mr Duck told jurors: 'There can be no suggestion (Walpole) was acting in self-defence or anything of that sort'. Barman Michael Marston was then punched in the face as he frogmarched Walpole out of the club. 'Belligerent' Walpole was arrested for all three attacks later that night. He remained abusive throughout the process and 'booking in' at a police station, the court heard. The court heard Walpole's behaviour towards his family had deteriorated since the pandemic, to the extent that his mother, Lynda Brown, sought a restraining order banning him from a road leading to his grandparents' home. Mrs Brown also installed the motion-sensitive cameras at her parents' home - which would provide crucial evidence around what went on at the address on the evening of the attack. She told jurors that at around 8.42pm on the evening of the attack, she received a call from her father to say that Walpole was there, adding: 'He was very hesitant as though he was scared to say any more.' Due to previous threats being made by Walpole to his grandfather, she called 999 to report her concerns and arranged to visit the bungalow in a taxi with her partner. Mrs Brown arrived to find the police already in attendance and her father in bed with a red mark on his left cheek. He was then transferred to hospital. Mrs Brown told the court that Walpole then called her to ask for £40 before adding, 'I slapped your Papi'. The court heard that those who knew Walpole and his grandfather 'formed the view' that Mr Brown had tried his best to help his grandson, but that the defendant had taken advantage of the older man's kindness. Jurors were told Walpole was in the habit of visiting his grandparents while 'in drink'. PC Jasmine Jackson told the court she had attended the Browns' property on November 12 last year – 11 days before the fatal attack - after concerns were raised by Ms Brown about Walpole's behaviour. Reading from her notebook, she quoted what Mr Brown had told her: 'My grandson phoned me and wanted money. I told him I didn't have any money. He then said, 'You bastard, I am going to kill you'.' PC Jackson said Mr Brown had gone on to say that Walpole had turned up at his bungalow two hours later, banging on his windows. Walpole was cleared of Mr Brown's murder but convicted of an alternate count of manslaughter. He was also convicted of assault by beating, assault ocassioning acutal bodily harm and breaching a restraining order. Following his death, Mr Brown was described as a 'loving husband, father, and grandfather, but also a true gentleman, a pillar of the community, and a world-renowned figure in the Jaguar restoration industry'. His family said in a statement that he was 'a true craftsman, renowned worldwide for his expertise and passion for his work'. He was said to have built and restored 'some of the most iconic Jaguars, including the legendary XK series.' Natalie Kelly, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Jakob Walpole carried out a senseless and brutal attack on his own grandfather who had tried to help him. 'He showed no concern or remorse following the attack. Rather than call for help, he callously left his vulnerable and elderly grandfather severely injured and went to a local pub where he assaulted two further elderly victims. 'Everyone who knew Mr Brown saw how much he did for his grandson, often going out of his way to care and support him - but Walpole simply took advantage of his kindness. 'While this conviction ensures Walpole is held accountable for his actions, the family have been left with a deep and lasting pain that no justice can erase.'
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Kilsby new-build plans rejected despite previous approval
Plans for homes to be built near a village have rejected despite having been previously December, West Northamptonshire Council had granted planning permission for 19 homes, including seven affordable properties, towards the western edge of after changes to part of Section 106 contributions - money from the developer for infrastructure - the Barby Road application went back to the planning committee and has now been than 230 objections were raised by members of the public against the plans, which were also not supported by the area's Conservative MP, Stuart Andrew. Following the decision in December, the plans were heard again in June but deferred for a site visit before appearing in front of members for a final time on Thursday, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Gidley from the Kilsby Action Group said the need for more houses in the village - which lies a few miles outside Rugby, Warwickshire - was a "fallacy" and called on members to reject the proposals as it was outside of the village on behalf of the applicant, Alasdair Avila-Thorne said it was "clearly evidenced" that there were insufficient sites within the village boundary to meet the identified local housing voted to refuse the plans on the basis that the development would be outside the village confines and did not meet the 'exceptional criteria' necessary to do also found that the proposal would result in the loss of open land, which would conflict with the character of Estates have up to six months to appeal the decision with the planning inspectorate. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Pears strike late against Hants on rain-affected day
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Visit Worcestershire New Road (day one)Hampshire 146-2: Middleton 79, Weatherley 62Worcestershire: Yet to batHants (0 pts), Worcs (0 pts)Match scorecard Worcestershire struck two late blows after Hampshire's batters had laid a solid foundation on a truncated first day of their County Championship match at Visit Worcestershire New in search of their first championship victory since mid-May, closed on 146 for two having reached 127 without loss before losing openers Fletcha Middleston (79, 101 balls) and Joe Weatherley (62, 130) in a late burst of play in poor were blows badly needed by Worcestershire, bottom of Division One and desperate for a win to sustain their slender hopes of a wet outfield prevented play before lunch, the home side chose to bowl in conditions still damp from morning rain, but the assistance for the seamers they hoped for did not materialise. Pakistan pace spearhead Khurram Shahzad was expensive as Weatherley and Middleton put 50 on the board by the 14th Winchester-born openers were little troubled by a Worcestershire attack bruised by last week's heartbreaking defeat to neighbours Warwickshire. Having dominated the first half of the match at Edgbaston, the Pears suffered a devastating defeat as Warwickshire chased down 393 on the last on home turf, the Worcestershire attack, with Matthew Waite returning from paternity leave in place of Sussex loanee Bertie Foreman, again toiled. Middleton hurried to his half-century from 51 balls and Weatherley followed to his from openers were looking forward to a productive evening session only for the rain to return during the tea interval and prevent play until a late resumption at 6pm. Hampshire's openers ventured back out with little to gain and everything to lose – and the home side took advantage of the murky, moist conditions. Middleton edged Tom Taylor to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, who took a superb catch in front of first slip, and Weatherly edged Ben Allison to Ethan Brookes at second wickets were an unwelcome postscript to a hitherto excellent day for Hampshire but they have still set down a solid platform from which to push for a victory that would lift them away from the relegation zone – and pretty much sentence Worcestershire to end the season in it. ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Westley continues rich form for Essex against Bears
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford (day one)Essex 350-4: Westley 124*, Walter 86; Malik 1-1Warwickshire: Yet to batEssex (3 pt), Warwicks (1 pt)Match scorecard Tom Westley's rich vein of form in the County Championship continued as he notched his third century in five innings to frustrate Warwickshire on day one at well hitting his 32nd first-class hundred in an innings of sublime stroke-play, the Essex captain also passed 14,000 career runs in red-ball cricket. With Paul Walter, who hit 86 from 160 balls, Westley put on 132 for the second wicket and 81 for the third with Jordan Cox. At stumps, Westley was unbeaten on 124 from 234 balls with Essex posting his fifth score above fifty this season, two of them centuries, launched two sixes and nine fours. It enabled Essex to build on the euphoria of only their second Championship win of the season last week at Hove, a win that lifted them out of the relegation only redeeming feature for Warwickshire on a gloomy day that matched their deteriorating mood, was arguably the first career wicket for part-time leg-spinner Zen Malik. Brought on to eat up an over before the arrival of the second new-ball, Malik had Cox attempting to hit his fifth delivery out of the park, but instead the batsmen ended up on his backside with his stumps the start of the play, Essex's own bowling plans had twice been thrown into disarray in the space of 24 hours. They had already lost one member of their attack when Indian international pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed pulled out of a contract due to run to the end of the season, citing "personal reasons". Then, less than quarter-of-an-hour before the start of the match, off-spinner Simon Harmer, who had taken part in all the warm-up routines, withdrew also offering "personal reasons" for his problems were shelved for the time being as Essex were put into bat on a hybrid pitch with plenty of grass left on to help encourage greater carry for the bowlers. In fact, it encouraged the batsmen and a flurry of straight-driven fours enabled the Essex openers to compile 68 runs without undue alarm in 19 Elgar, overcoming a torrid first over from Oliver Hannon-Dalby, brought up the fifty partnership with an uncharacteristic slash at Beau Webster that cleared the slip cordon. However, he departed soon after to his second rash shot of the innings, pulling the Australian low to one occasion, Walter, so strong off the backfoot, came down the wicket to waft Corey Rocchiccioli for six over extra cover and post Essex's first hundred. He reached his half-century from 79 balls with a well-placed push into the off-side for two. Walter took a liking to the Australian off-spinner with another six, this time over the other end, some of Westley's strokes were exquisite. He produced a classically executed cover drive for four off Ethan Bamber, and later essayed a textbook straight-drive off Webster. Another off-drive for four by Westley off Webster took the stand with Walter to three-figures, of which both batsmen contributed 49. Three balls later Westley reached a 107-ball had just taken Essex past 200 with only one wicket down when, next ball, Walter's four-hour innings came to an end. He got an outside edge to a delivery from Rocchiccioli, the ball ricocheting off wicketkeeper Kai Smith's thigh and ballooning up for a diving Alex Davies to claim at switched ends straight after tea and immediately extracted some rare bounce and lift that had Westley groping at thin air. Normal service was quickly resumed, though, and soon Westley was angling Ed Barnard to third man for the boundary that took him to his century from 185 finally gained some reward late on when he had Matt Critchley swinging and bottom-edging through to the wicketkeeper. Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
West Midlands Police defibrillator funding is 'huge win', says campaigner
Money seized from criminals has been used to pay for life-saving defibrillators to go in 10 West Midlands Police vans in what a campaigner has described as a "huge win".While the force already has defibrillators in firearms and traffic cars, it is now placing devices in vans used by its operational support unit, often for big events like sporting occasions and concerts. Supplied by first aid charity St John Ambulance, a spokesperson added that the devices were "designed for rapid deployment and ease of use, even in high-pressure situations".Naomi Rees-Issitt, who has campaigned for all police vehicles in the UK to be equipped with defibrillators, has welcomed the move. 'Vital step' She set up the OurJay Foundation in memory of her 18-year-old son Jamie Rees, from Wolvey, in Warwickshire, who died after suddenly collapsing on New Year's could have lived, doctors later said, if officers or the public had quicker access to a said the development was "a huge win for public safety and a testament to the power of community campaigning", adding: "Jamie's legacy lives on through initiatives like this." Ch Supt Sarah Burton, head of the operations unit, said it was a "vital step forward" in the ability of the force to respond to emergencies."Our officers are often first at the scene of serious incidents and having defibrillators on board gives them the tools to act immediately," she force used £10,750 secured via the Proceeds of Crime Act, where police seize money from criminal activity and reinvest it into crime prevention and community safety. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
