A 33-YEAR-OLD thug has been found guilty of killing “frail and vulnerable” grandfather after an all-day drinking session.
Vintage car expert John Brown, 81, died six days after being attacked by Jakob Walpole, 33, a trial was told.
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Well-known Jaguar restoration expert John suffered serious head injuries in his home at the hands of Walpole, who was convicted of John’s manslaughter.
The cowardly thug was also convicted of breaching a restraining order and assaulting two other elderly victims, a court heard on Wednesday.
Jurors were shown “haunting” footage of “world-renowned” restoration expert John pleading for help on a security camera before he was attacked by Walpole.
He could be seen waving at the camera – said to be linked to his daughter, Walpole’s mum – while in the garden before going back inside his bungalow.
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.
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC told jurors Walpole had been “drinking throughout the day” and committed two assaults at Bulkington Working Men’s Club around an hour after attacking his grandfather on the night of November 23 last year.
Mr Duck told jurors: “John Brown is Jakob Walpole’s grandfather.
He was a frail man and he had recently been diagnosed with the early stages of dementia.
“He was plainly a vulnerable individual and the evidence will demonstrate that this defendant was acutely aware of that.”
John was well known in the local community, having run a successful car panel and body repair business due to his expertise in respect of vintage cars, the court heard.
Earlier that evening, Walpole had been seen on CCTV footage arriving at Mr Brown’s bungalow, before going inside and attacking the pensioner.
Police summoned to the Browns’ bungalow by their daughter found the pensioner “dazed and confused” and with significant injuries to his face and arms.
Despite being rushed to hospital, over the following hours John suffered a bleed on the brain as a result of the attack and passed away six days later.
He had also attended a match at Coventry City‘s home stadium that lunchtime before visiting local pubs in the run-up to the spree of violence.
After attacking his relative, the sick thug went on to smash a glass over the back of a working men’s club customer’s head in an incident caught on the “clearest possible” CCTV footage.
Walpole then made “physical and direct contact” with a bar worker as he was physically removed from the club.
Concerns about Walpole’s “deteriorating behaviour” had led to a security camera being installed at his grandparents’ home address in Bulkington.
He was also already subject to a restraining order when he carried out the attack on his grandfather.
Jurors were then asked to evaluate whether or not Walpole intended really serious harm in considering the murder charge, after watching the haunting CCTV images.
Mr Duck said the jury “may think it was a gesture of desire for assistance”.
‘ACT OF COWARDICE’
Commenting after the case, 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.”
Walpole, of School Road, Bulkington, Warwickshire, will be sentenced next Monday.
Detective Inspector Gareth Unett, who led the investigation for Warwickshire Police, said: “John Brown was a kind, gentle, hardworking man whose loss has left a huge void in the lives of his loved ones and friends.
“Not only was he loved greatly by all those around him, he was known internationally as one of the best restorers of classic Jaguars.
“The legacy he leaves is not only in the love and generosity he showed to those around him, but also in the countless classic cars that will survive for generations more thanks to his work.
“Walpole’s attack on his grandfather, who had shown him nothing but kindness and generosity, was an act of cowardice and brutality that, in decades of policing, I struggle to find a comparison for.”
