A man has been jailed for 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, after being attacked by Jakob Walpole on 23 November last year.
Walpole, 33, who lived nearby, was found guilty of manslaughter, breaching a restraining order, and assaulting two other victims at a working men’s club but was cleared of murder following a three-week trial.
At Warwick Crown Court on Monday, he was jailed for 15 years, with a further two years on extended licence.
Passing sentence, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC said Mr Brown was an “exceptionally small man in deteriorating physical health” who had been diagnosed with dementia.
“Your visits [to Mr Brown’s home] were made to exploit his love… by taking money from both your grandparents to fund your lifestyle. You were an intimidating and persistent nuisance in their lives,” she added.
The defendant sat in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit with his head down.
The court heard that on the night Walpole attacked his grandfather, Mr Brown “stood up to” the defendant, who was asking for money, before the elderly man was struck on the head.
Walpole repeatedly said “shut up” from the dock while his mother, Lynda Brown, read a victim impact statement to the court.
“The tears we have shed could fill buckets, and I live with the knowledge my son caused the death of my beloved father,” Ms Brown said.
She added that even though her son is now in prison, her mother lives in constant fear, thinking Walpole will turn up at her house again.
Mr Brown was well known in the local community, having run a successful car panel and body repair business, and was an expert in restoring vintage cars.
