81-year-old car restorer dies after head attack by grandson who exploited his vulnerability

A Warwickshire man has been jailed for killing his “frail and vulnerable” grandfather, a respected vintage Jaguar car restoration expert, in a violent confrontation at the pensioner’s home.

Jakob Walpole, 33, struck 81-year-old John Brown on the head during a row on 23 November last year, leaving him with severe injuries. The elderly man, already in declining health, died six days later in the hospital.

A jury at Warwick Crown Court found Walpole guilty of manslaughter, breaching a restraining order, and assaulting two other victims at a working men’s club. He was cleared of murder after a three-week trial.

On Monday, Judge Kristina Montgomery KC sentenced him to 15 years in prison, with an additional two years on extended licence.

John Brown, described as an “exceptionally small man in deteriorating physical health,” had been diagnosed with dementia. Judge Montgomery told the court that Walpole had repeatedly visited his grandparents’ home not out of care, but to take money from them to fund his lifestyle.

“You were an intimidating and persistent nuisance in their lives,” she said, noting that on the night of the attack, Mr Brown “stood up” to his grandson’s demands for money. It was then that Walpole struck him, inflicting the fatal injury.

Throughout sentencing, Walpole sat in the dock in a grey tracksuit, his head bowed. At times, he muttered “shut up” as his mother, Lynda Brown, read a harrowing victim impact statement.

Her words cut to the core of the family tragedy: “The tears we have shed could fill buckets, and I live with the knowledge my son caused the death of my beloved father.”

She revealed that even with her son now behind bars, her elderly mother lives in constant fear that he might one day appear at her door again.

Mr Brown’s death has left a gaping hole in the local community. Known for his expertise in restoring vintage Jaguar cars, he had run a successful panel and body repair business for years, earning the respect and admiration of classic car enthusiasts.

Neighbours in Bulkington spoke of a man who was both talented and generous with his time, often sharing his knowledge of automotive restoration. His passion for classic vehicles had been a defining part of his life, yet his final months were overshadowed by the intimidation and financial exploitation he endured from his grandson.

The court also heard about Walpole’s other violent conduct. On the same day as the fatal attack, he assaulted two people at a working men’s club. These incidents formed part of the charges that led to his conviction.

Judge Montgomery made it clear that Walpole’s behaviour was not the result of a single moment of poor judgment, but a pattern of manipulation and aggression that culminated in the loss of a much-loved family member.

The tragedy has been compounded by the fact that it unfolded within the family home, a place where Mr Brown should have felt safe. Instead, the pensioner’s final stand against his grandson’s demands cost him his life.

With Walpole now serving his sentence, the Brown family is left to grieve not only for the man they lost, but also for the destruction of family bonds that once tied them together.