Brutal Attack Inside Victim’s Home
A drug user who murdered a 94-year-old great-grandfather after being disturbed during a burglary has been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 33 years.
Paul Topham broke into Harold Monk’s flat in Inglewood Avenue, Wolverhampton, in the early hours of 3 October last year, wearing a balaclava and carrying a rucksack.
When Mr Monk woke and confronted him, Topham launched a sustained attack, holding him down and repeatedly beating him.
Fatal Injuries
Judge Michael Chambers KC said the “brutal and sustained” assault left Mr Monk with 18 fractures to his face, skull, spine and ribs, as well as serious injuries to his brain and abdomen.
Mr Monk was taken to the hospital but died the following day with his family at his side. Before his death, he managed to tell police what had happened.
Neighbour Tried to Intervene
During the attack, a neighbour confronted Topham and called 999, but Topham told him to “f*** off” while continuing to pin down the pensioner.
Judge Chambers described the crime as “a particularly despicable murder” and one of the worst types of homicide.
Sentencing
Topham, of Palmerston Road, Birmingham, was convicted of murder after a trial in July. He had admitted burglary and manslaughter but denied murder.
On Thursday at Wolverhampton Crown Court, he showed no emotion as he was handed a life sentence for murder, with a concurrent 54-month sentence for burglary.
Premeditated Break-In
The court heard Topham had visited a relative living in the same sheltered accommodation the weekend before the attack. After spotting that Mr Monk had left his keys in the door, he stole them and returned days later to burgle the property.
By the time of the attack, he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“Frail Old Man” Targeted
Judge Chambers said it was inevitable Mr Monk would have been woken, “given the size of the flat,” and when the elderly man confronted him, Topham attacked.
“You repeatedly and forcibly assaulted him, punching him and sitting on him to such an extent you fractured his ribs,” the judge said.
He added that Topham continued with the burglary while his victim lay dying.
Police Arrest
Police were called at 3.04 am, but Topham initially refused to co-operate. He climbed onto the roof of a conservatory and engaged in a stand-off with officers before being arrested.
Victim’s Family Tribute
Mr Monk was married twice and had three children, six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
His daughter, Patricia Monk, described him as a “wonderful human being who was loved dearly by his family.”
“We miss his quirky sense of humour and his huge presence,” she said in a victim impact statement. “We miss witnessing the fulfilment he found in everyday life, even at 94 years old, and he loved to see his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.”
The family had been preparing to celebrate his 95th birthday.
Defence Statement
Gurdeep Garcha KC, defending, said Topham was “not a heartless, evil man” and had not intended to kill anyone when he set out to burgle Mr Monk’s flat.
“He recognises the blame lies solely with him,” Mr Garcha told the court. “He is the author of this whole event.”
