Man guilty of killing 'vulnerable' grandfather

Jakob Walpole, 33, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury, but was cleared of murder

A man has been found guilty of killing his "frail and vulnerable" grandfather who was a well-known Jaguar car restoration expert.

John Brown, 81, died six days after suffering head injuries at his home in Bulkington, Warwickshire, at the hands of Jakob Walpole, 33.

A jury at Warwick Crown Court had heard that Walpole had a "very significant day of drinking" before the attack.

Walpole, of School Road in the village, was found guilty of manslaughter and of assaulting two other victims at a working men's club, but was cleared of murder.

During the trial, Michael Duck KC told jurors Walpole had been "drinking throughout the day" before attacking his relative on 23 November of last year.

He went on to smash a glass over the back of a customer's head at Bulkington Working Men's Club in an incident caught on the "clearest possible" CCTV footage.

John Brown was well-known as a Jaguar restoration specialist

Walpole then made "physical and direct contact" with a bar worker as he was physically removed from the club.

The court heard relatives had expressed concern about Walpole's "deteriorating" behaviour since the Covid pandemic, leading to Mr Brown's daughter installing security cameras at her parents' home in St James Gardens, Bulkington.

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."

Det Insp Gareth Unett of Warwickshire Police, said: "John Brown was a kind, gentle, hard-working man whose loss has left a huge void in the lives of his loved ones and friends.

"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."