Latest news with #WayneWoodgate
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Chilling moment murderer jokes with police that his victim 'is under my bed in my flat' - as he is convicted of grabbing man off the street and choking him to death
A murderer who joked with police about the whereabouts of his victim, telling officers in a chilling moment 'He's under my bed in my flat', has been convicted. Stephen Castle was yesterday convicted of murdering Wayne Woodgate, 54, after a chance meeting in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The 59-year-old strangled Mr Woodgate, described as a 'much-loved' father and grandfather, over claims the latter was a 'grass'. During the trial, it emerged the killing was driven by a long-held grudge, with Castle blaming Woodgate for tipping off police in 2015. Castle had previously served seven and a half years in prison after firearms were discovered in his home during a police raid. Released bodycam footage shows Castle maintaining a surprisingly casual demeanor as officers told him he was under arrest for kidnap. A further clip then shows an officer carrying out an 'urgent interview' to try find the whereabouts of Mr Woodgate, at the end of which Castle says: 'He is under my bed in my flat'. The pair had not seen each other for 10 years before meeting in Tunbridge Wells at around 3:30pm on October 17, 2024. Wayne Woodgate was walking along Goods Station Road in the town centre when Stephen Castle confronted him. Castle threatened Woodgate and forced him into a Peugeot van driven by another man, the trial heard. Concerned witnesses saw the incident and called the police, who then tracked the van to Castle's home on Hastings Road, near Matfield. Castle was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and initially claimed he had met Woodgate to exchange drugs and insisted the victim had been safely dropped off nearby. Officers later found a hired Renault Trafic van parked outside Castle's address. Number plate recognition cameras showed the van leaving Castle's home at 4:15pm, heading toward a remote spot in East Sussex. Although initially released on bail, Castle was rearrested on October 22 on suspicion of murder. While in custody Castle protested about leaving his cell for an interview, saying: 'There's no point, I may as well go straight to prison; I'm going to do 25 years anyway'. CCTV enquiries led officers to Mr Woodgate's body, which was found on the following day in woodland off the A268 in Peasmarsh. He had been murdered with a ligature, police said, shortly after meeting Castle who had driven him to his home. At Maidstone Crown Court, Castle admitted killing his victim but claimed he had not intended to do so. He denied a charge of murder and pleaded guilty to manslaughter. A trial took place which concluded on May 28, 2025, when a jury found him guilty of murder by unanimous verdict. The trial was told the killing was the result of a 'long-standing grudge' held by Castle, who blamed Mr Woodgate for 'grassing'. Castle will be sentenced at the same court on June 26. Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber, said:'Stephen Castle brutally killed a man he knew over a disagreement they had in the past. 'His actions after they met by chance in Tunbridge Wells were determined, ruthless and ultimately led to the senseless death of a much-loved father and grandfather. 'Castle has left a family in deep mourning and I only hope this conviction allows them some form of closure. 'I would like to thank the witnesses who assisted our investigation and ultimately helped us bring this violent criminal to justice.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Cold killer' who strangled a grandad to death found guilty
A man who strangled a "much-loved" grandfather and then dumped his body in undergrowth has been found guilty of murder. Stephen Castle, 59, killed 54-year-old Wayne Woodgate following a chance encounter in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Maidstone Crown Court heard that Castle had a longstanding grudge against Mr Woodgate, blaming him for a police raid on his home several years earlier which led to him going to jail. Mr Woodgate had told his stepson he feared ever seeing Castle again, believing he was "after him" as he thought he had grassed on him, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 'Intended to kill' The jury was shown CCTV footage during the trial of Castle driving past Mr Woodgate in Goods Station Road on 17 October 2024. Kent Police said "concerned witnesses" saw Castle arguing with his victim before he threatened Mr Woodgate and another man forced him into a van. Castle then drove Mr Woodgate to his home, where they were alone, and strangled him to death, the prosecution said in court. Mr Woodgate's body was found six days later just off a main road near Peasmarsh, East Sussex, the CPS said. Will Bodiam from the CPS said Castle was not someone who "suddenly snapped". "This was a man who intended to kill," he said. Mr Bodiam continued that, although Castle maintained he was not a "cold killer", "forensic evidence told a different story in terms of the force and pressure he used to kill his victim." Man 'strangled victim out of anger', court hears After initially claiming to police he left Mr Woodgate safe and well, Castle changed his story and admitted he killed him, according to the CPS. "Even then, he [Castle] continued to lie about where he killed Wayne and repeatedly claimed that it was unintentional," said Mr Bodian. Kent Police called Mr Woodgate a "much-loved father and grandfather". "Castle has left a family in deep mourning," said the force's senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Neil Kimber. "I only hope this conviction allows them some form of closure." Castle is due to be sentenced on 26 June.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- BBC News
Tunbridge Wells murder accused 'strangled victim out of anger', jury told
Man 'strangled victim out of anger', court hears Just now Share Save Sara Smith BBC News, South East Share Save Kent Police A man is accused of murder Wayne Woodgate after he went missing on 17 October 2024 A man accused of murder said he strangled his victim out of anger because he held him responsible for getting him sent to jail, a jury has been told. Wayne Woodgate, 54, was seen getting into a van in Tunbridge Wells in Kent after an altercation with Stephen Castle on 17 October last year, and his body was found six days later in a rural location in Peasmarsh, East Sussex. A trial at Maidstone Crown Court was told that Mr Castle blamed Mr Woodgate for a police raid on his home several years earlier which ended with him going to prison. Mr Castle, 59, of Kipping's Cross near Tunbridge Wells, admits manslaughter but denies murder. A jury was told that, in a police interview after his arrest, Mr Castle said Mr Woodgate owed him money for a drug deal but had instead "grassed him up". Mr Woodgate had been afraid of meeting him again, the trial heard, but they bumped into each other by chance in Tunbridge Wells. The prosecution told the jury that Mr Castle had taken Mr Woodgate in the van to his home address and, when the two were alone, strangled and killed him. 'Scared' The court heard how a bystander called 999 as was concerned about seeing Mr Castle swearing at Mr Woodgate and that it did not look like the victim had much choice but to get in the vehicle. Prosecutors said Mr Woodgate's son, Joseph, had driven to Tunbridge Wells to collect his father and that it looked like he had been "scared" while speaking to Mr Castle. Joseph Woodgate was watching the exchange through his rear-view mirror and then glanced down to his mobile phone. When he looked back up both his father and Mr Castle were gone, the court heard. Mr Woodgate's son explained that he then called his father who said: "I've got to go and see somebody, they've told me to turn my phone off." No further phone calls were picked up, the jury was told. Mr Castle was arrested just before 20:00 BST the same day on suspicion of kidnapping. The defendant later told police Mr Woodgate was safe when he had dropped him off earlier. Prosecutors say Mr Castle then went back to conceal Mr Woodgate's body further in undergrowth after he was released on police bail. The trial continues. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
