A pensioner who developed a grudge against his neighbour and snuck into his flat to murder him with a spade has been jailed.
Thomas Dunn, 84, of Oakdene Court, Sandback, Cheshire, battered Falklands veteran Royston Costello, 60, on February 20, over the head with the spade while he was asleep which left Mr Costello partially paralysed and unable to speak.
Dunn then fled the scene by speeding off in his mobility scooter.
Mr Costello suffered serious head injuries, was rushed to Royal Stoke Hospital, had emergency brain surgery and was in critical care but died on April 20.
Dunn harboured feelings of resentment towards Mr Costello prior to the attack and accused him of making noise, using a fire door and letting his dog off the lead.
He was also unhappy that Mr Costello had been given a new car under a mobility scheme, and a large ‘Z’ was scratched into it, prompting Mr Costello to call the police.
Dunn was arrested at 2.40pm on February 20 at a nursing home in Wilmslow around 15 miles away. He was initially charged with assault while his victim lay in hospital.
Dunn was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 17 years and six months for the attack, at Chester Crown Court on Friday.
He had pleaded guilty to murder last month and the sentence means he will likely die behind bars.
In a statement issued following Dunn’s sentencing, Mr Costello’s wife Cathy Dunn said: ‘Roy was a gentle giant who would always help anyone. He was very well loved by all who knew him because of his caring nature.
‘Roy and I were very much one unit and we went everywhere and did everything together. Quite simply we were each other’s world; we always said as long as we had each other that was enough.
‘Roy being taken the way he was by a neighbour who can only be described as an evil coward is something I will never get over.
‘I have been left with a big void in my life where Roy used to be and I know life will not be the same.
‘I miss Roy each and every day and I now have to live my life a different way.
‘I will do my very best to live a life without Roy as I know this is what he would want, but I do not look forward to this and it will not be easy without him, he was my rock.
‘I love you Roy and always will and I thank you for the wonderful 23 years we shared together.
‘I promise you that not a day will go by when I will not think of you. You will always be with me in my heart and soul, but for now, RIP my darling until we meet again.’
Detective Inspector David Hutcheon, of Cheshire Police, said: ‘Dunn’s actions that day were horrific. From the moment he awoke he was intent on causing harm to Mr Costello.
‘He carefully planned his attack, hitting Mr Costello with a spade from behind as he slept on the sofa, knowing that he had no way to defend himself.
‘During questioning Dunn admitted that he knew that he had inflicted serious injuries on Mr Costello following the first blow, but that he went on to hit him a further two times as he wanted to “teach him a lesson”.
‘As a result of his actions that day, a wife has lost her loving husband, two children have lost their dad and six grandchildren have lost their caring granddad.
‘While Mr Costello’s family will never be able to forget what happened that day, I hope that the fact that Dunn has now been held accountable for his actions and is likely spend a long time behind bars, will provide them with some closure.’
The court was told Dunn had underlying mental health problems, having been assessed by a psychologist.
Peter Wright KC, defending, said these had been ‘insufficient’ to support a defence of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
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