Man jailed after assault victim dies in fire

William Joyce was found guilty of murder after a trial at Leeds Crown Court

A man who left a vulnerable man so badly injured he was unable to escape a deadly fire has been jailed for life for murder.

Darren Leach, 53, was found dead at his home in Marsden Grove, in Beeston, Leeds, on 19 March.

West Yorkshire Police said while Mr Leach had suffered visible burn injuries and had inhaled carbon monoxide during he fire, he also had serious injuries not caused by the blaze which would have left him "incapacitated" and unable to escape.

William Joyce 38, of Woodview Terrace, Beeston, was found guilty of murder following a trial at Leeds Crown Court and ordered to serve a minimum of 25 years in jail.

The court heard Mr Leach had suffered seven broken ribs, multiple fractures to his larynx and injuries to his face and neck.

A pathologist concluded the injuries were as a result of an assault which had occurred prior to the fire and were of a life-threatening nature.

CCTV footage showed Joyce was the last person seen leaving Mr Leach's home on 18 March before he was found dead the following day.

Darren Leach was found dead at his home in Beeston after a fire took hold of his property

Det Ch Insp Stacey Atkinson said: "What we heard from those who knew Darren Leach was that he was a well-liked man who sadly had had issues with alcoholism in recent years.

"Joyce has preyed on Darren's vulnerabilities and appears to have gone to his home that day with the intention of taking cash or other property from him.

"While we do not know whether the cause of the fire was deliberate or accidental, the evidence presented to the court tells us that Darren's injuries left him incapacitated meaning he was unable to escape the fire and therefore played a significant role in his death."

In a statement, Mr Leach's siblings said: "Despite the verdict, we are still left with the pain and heartache of Darren's death, knowing we will never see him again and Darren will never get to see his children and grandchildren grow up.

"Darren was a kind and thoughtful man who lost his way through tragedy, losing our mother in 2007. Darren has now got the justice he deserves."

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