Man who beat mum's partner to death jailed

Jack Naylor became loud and aggressive at his own birthday party before attacking his mother's partner Thomas Gomm

A man who beat his mother's partner to death at a birthday party has been jailed for a minimum of 16 years.

Jack Naylor was celebrating his own birthday at the family home in Salford, Greater Manchester, on 15 December 2024 when he attacked Thomas Gomm.

The 44-year-old was taken to hospital and died two days later.

Naylor was handed a life sentence at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of murder and a racially aggravated public order offence directed at a police officer.

In a statement, Mr Gomm's family said: "No sentence can bring Thomas back, but we feel that the jury made the right decision and we take comfort in that.

"Not a day goes by without thinking of Thomas, he will be in our hearts forever."

Greater Manchester Police said Naylor had been drinking at the party, on Irvine Avenue in Boothstown, and eventually became loud and aggressive.

An argument followed, leading to his mother leaving at 19:40 GMT and walking to a friend's house in Leigh Street.

A short time later Naylor turned up there with blood on his hands and clothes, looking "agitated and wild-eyed" while demanding to be let in.

GMP said his mother's friend let him in and was told "be a good girl or you'll get what Thomas got but worse".

'Night of tragedy'

Naylor's mother fled to another house and barricaded herself into a bedroom as he tried to break down the door.

However by this stage police had been called and he was arrested at the scene while hurling racial abuse at the officers.

Police attended the family home in Irvine Street at 21:20 and found Mr Gomm lying unconscious in a pool of blood.

While his cause of death was noted as traumatic brain injuries, he had also sustained a fractured jaw as well as extensive bruising to his head and body.

Naylor claimed he had struck Mr Gomm in self-defence, but that the injuries that killed him were from days earlier when he had been attacked by someone else.

Det Ch Insp Mark Davis said: "Thomas sadly lost his life in the run-up to Christmas.

"What is meant to be a happy time spent with friends and family was tarnished in a night of tragedy.

"Naylor deserves to be behind bars for his selfish acts and for the pain he has inflicted, not only on Thomas, but also on his family and friends.

"Sadly Thomas will never get to return home to his loved ones."