Labradoodle thief guilty of Donald Patience murder

Donald Prentice Patience was found at the bottom of his stairs

A man who strangled a dog owner and then stole his pet labradoodle has been found guilty of murder.

Donald Prentice Patience, 45, was found dead by police at his home on Ainsworth Road in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on 22 August.

Ian Connell, 39, of Duke Street, Bolton, has been convicted of his murder at Manchester Crown Court.

The court heard the drug addict later returned to the home of his decomposing victim and took his dog.

Police found Connell outside Mr Patience's home with his dog, Layla.

He had claimed Mr Patience was away in Scotland and had given him permission by phone to force entry because he needed his dog walking.

The court heard this was the first of "many lies" from Connell who strangled Mr Patience after a row about money.

He then "callously" went about his day-to-day life, as his victim's body lay decomposing underneath a pink duvet cover at the bottom of the stairs, the jury was told.

The court heard Connell was among a number of people who preyed on Mr Patience's "good nature" to borrow money.

Connell was found outside the victim's home with his white dog Layla

Connell was arrested on suspicion of burglary when one of the responding police officers recognised the labradoodle from a previous interaction with Mr Patience, the court heard.

He was found to be in possession of a wallet containing Mr Patience's driving licence and library card when he was arrested.

Mr Patience, who was born in Alness, Scotland, graduated from Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University as an actuary in 2001.

He worked in statistical analysis for pensions but became unwell from the "high pressure job" and spent a short time in a Priory clinic.

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The court heard the father-of-three set up a Domino's pizza restaurant franchise in Bury with one of his brothers but then turned to drink after a car accident and became addicted to painkillers.

Giving evidence, Connell claimed he was asleep upstairs in a spare room and under the influence of heroin and crack cocaine when someone else strangled Mr Patience.

Floral tributes were left near the home in Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe

He said he "panicked" after he said he eventually discovered the body.

Richard Holliday, senior prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service North West, said: "We will never know what happened in the house leading up to Mr Patience's death or what Ian Connell's motivation was for attacking the man he claimed to love like family."

Connell is due to be sentenced on Wednesday.