Man who tried to kill care home resident jailed

Graham Dowling was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Friday

A man has been jailed for 20 years, with another five years on licence, for leaving a fellow care home resident with life-changing injuries in a "ferocious" attack over his girlfriend.

Graham Dowling, 36, of Barkerend Road in Bradford, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on Friday after he was previously found guilty of attempting to murder Kevin Ryan, 61.

The incident occurred in the early hours of 10 December at the Burger Court care facility, for adults with learning disabilities, when Dowling discovered his girlfriend, another resident, had kissed Mr Ryan.

The court was told Dowling punched and kicked Mr Ryan with such force his injuries were akin to a fall from a second-floor window onto hard ground.

Judge Peter Kelson said his injuries were "more often seen in car crashes or attacks with baseball bats".

He said: "It was a ferocious attack on an innocent victim.

"Your victim will be dependent on others for the rest of his life.

"He had quality of life beforehand and now he doesn't."

Mr Ryan was involved in a car crash in 1999 which had left him needing support.

The court heard on Friday that following the attack his injuries had left him bedbound.

Mr Ryan's sister Dyan said she did not "feel sorry for Dowling".

"It's not just my family that has been affected, it's him and his family. Kevin is not the man he was," she said.

"He can't walk, he can't retain information."

Giving evidence in May, Dowling said he was acting in self-defence after he went into the victim's room and repeatedly assaulted him, causing significant skull fractures and broken ribs.

Kevin Ryan suffered several fractures and a punctured lung in the attack last December

The defendant had told the jury that he had punched and kicked Mr Ryan after the victim "flipped my glasses".

Dowling admitted causing grievous bodily harm but was convicted of attempted murder at a trial in May.

Det Con Laura Milner, from Bradford CID, said it was a "tragic case which has left the victim with life-changing injuries".

She said: "As a result of the sustained attack launched by the defendant, Kevin now requires 24/7 care and cannot walk or communicate his needs properly. His life will never be the same.

"My sincere thoughts are with him and his close family, and I hope they can start to gain some form of closure knowing that Dowling has now been brought to justice for his crime."

In May 2024, Burger Court was inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

A few days before Mr Ryan was attacked at the end of November, its report was published saying the home required improvement.

The CQC said on Friday that inspectors found no evidence of provider failings that could have prevented the incident and they had continued to monitor the home.

A spokesperson for Burger Court said: "We have cooperated fully throughout the investigations.

"Both individuals involved are no longer residents at Burger Court."

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