A drunk who fatally attacked his own grandfather is filmed glassing a patron in a nearby working men’s club less than an hour later – after the victim had confronted the killer for boasting about what he had done.
The shocking footage of Jakob Walpole attacking drinker Dennis Hopson from behind was released by police as the 33-year-old was convicted of the manslaughter of his grandfather John Brown, a ‘world-renowned’ Jaguar restoration expert, after an all-day drinking session.
Violent Walpole, who is also seen on CCTV footage arriving at Mr Brown’s bungalow moments before he ‘set about’ the 81-year-old inside the property, was also convicted of the glass attack on Mr Hopton and assaulting a third man who had escorted him out of Bulkington Men’s Club in Warwickshire after witnessing the glassing.
Walpole, who lived in the village in a property owned by Mr Brown and his ‘bedbound’ wife Dorothy, will be sentenced on Monday.
Jurors heard Mr Brown was well known in the village for running the local Leaping Cats workshop repairing vintage cars, but had recently been diagnosed with dementia.
During the four-week trial, jurors had been shown ‘haunting’ footage of Mr Brown pleading for help on a security camera outside his bungalow last November – before he was then fatally attacked inside.
Mr Brown was seen waving at the camera in his garden – which was ‘linked to his daughter’, Walpole’s mother – before the pensioner went back inside the bungalow.
Jakob Walpole ‘set about’ his grandfather after an all-day drinking session, jurors were told
John Brown was described by his family as a ‘true craftsman, renowned worldwide for his expertise and passion for his work’
Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, said: ‘What’s plain is that he was gesturing to the camera.
‘The prosecution say he was aware his daughter may see and it was a gesture, a desire for assistance.’
Less than four minutes later, Walpole was seen emerging from the property and from there headed to a village pub.
He stayed at the hostelry for a matter of minutes before moving on to the working men’s club.
Police summoned to the Browns’ bungalow by their daughter found the pensioner ‘dazed and confused’ and with significant injuries to his face and arms.
Relatives then arrived at the house and his daughter accompanied him to hospital, but over the following hours Mr Brown suffered a bleed on the brain as a result of the blows he had suffered and he passed away six days later.
Warwick Crown Court heard Walpole started drinking after buying a bottle of vodka shortly before 9am on the day of the attack.
He then attended a Coventry City football match at lunchtime before spending his time either side of the attack on Mr Brown in local aleshouses.
Walpole at the wheel of a vintage car, believed to be in his grandfather’s workhop
Jurors heard Walpole was confronted by Mr Hopson in the working men’s club – where Mr Brown had been a regular – after boasting about ‘lamping’ his grandfather.
The ‘verbally abusive’ Walpole ‘ignored’ the older man’s pleas to moderate his language and continued to badger the drinker.
Matters came to a head when Walpole took the victim’s seat and then smashed a pint glass over the back of his head after being told to move.
The attack caused cuts to Mr Hopson’s ear, neck and head and Mr Duck told jurors: ‘There can be no suggestion (Walpole) was acting in self-defence or anything of that sort’.
A barman was then punched in the face as he frogmarched Walpole out of the club.
‘Belligerent’ Walpole was arrested for all three attacks later that night. He remained abusive throughout the process and ‘booking in’ at a police station, the court heard.
The court heard Walpole’s behaviour towards his family had deteriorated since the pandemic, to the extent that his mother, Lynda Brown, sought a restraining order banning him from a road leading to his grandparents’ home.
Mrs Brown also installed the motion-sensitive cameras at her parents’ home – which would provide crucial evidence around what went on at the address on the evening of the attack.
She told jurors that at around 8.42pm on the evening of the attack, she received a call from her father to say that Walpole was there, adding: ‘He was very hesitant as though he was scared to say any more.’
Due to previous threats being made by Walpole to his grandfather, she called 999 to report her concerns and arranged to visit the bungalow in a taxi with her partner.
‘Belligerent’ Walpole continued to behave aggressively when he was arrested, the court heard
Mr Brown’s Leaping Cats workshop, where he developed a ‘world-renowned’ reputation
Mrs Brown arrived to find the police already in attendance and her father in bed with a red mark on his left cheek.
He was then transferred to hospital.
Mrs Brown told the court that Walpole then called her to ask for £40 before adding, ‘I slapped your Papi’.
The court heard that those who knew Walpole and his grandfather ‘formed the view’ that Mr Brown had tried his best to help his grandson, but that the defendant had taken advantage of the older man’s kindness.
Jurors were told Walpole was in the habit of visiting his grandparents while ‘in drink’.
PC Jasmine Jackson told the court she had attended the Browns’ property on November 12 last year – 11 days before the fatal attack – after concerns were raised by Ms Brown about Walpole’s behaviour.
Reading from her notebook, she quoted what Mr Brown had told her: ‘My grandson phoned me and wanted money. I told him I didn’t have any money. He then said, ‘You bastard, I am going to kill you’.’
PC Jackson said Mr Brown had gone on to say that Walpole had turned up at his bungalow two hours later, banging on his windows.
Walpole was cleared of Mr Brown’s murder but convicted of an alternate count of manslaughter. He was also convicted of assault by beating, assault ocassioning acutal bodily harm and breaching a restraining order.
Following his death, Mr Brown was described as a ‘loving husband, father, and grandfather, but also a true gentleman, a pillar of the community, and a world-renowned figure in the Jaguar restoration industry’.
His family said in a statement that he was ‘a true craftsman, renowned worldwide for his expertise and passion for his work’.
He was said to have built and restored ‘some of the most iconic Jaguars, including the legendary XK series.’
Natalie Kelly, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘Jakob Walpole carried out a senseless and brutal attack on his own grandfather who had tried to help him.
‘He showed no concern or remorse following the attack. Rather than call for help, he callously left his vulnerable and elderly grandfather severely injured and went to a local pub where he assaulted two further elderly victims.
‘Everyone who knew Mr Brown saw how much he did for his grandson, often going out of his way to care and support him – but Walpole simply took advantage of his kindness.
‘While this conviction ensures Walpole is held accountable for his actions, the family have been left with a deep and lasting pain that no justice can erase.’