Man, 20, found guilty for his part in 'brutal' murder of Staffordshire pensioner

Violent burglar Jason Wilsher has been found guilty for his part in the 'brutal' murder of a Staffordshire pensioner.

Arthur Gumbley, aged 87, died of his injuries following a raid on his Little Aston home in 2017 where multiple offenders attacked him before fleeing with gold and silver jewellery.

Extensive forensic work, carried out by Staffordshire Police, identified Wilsher's DNA on a cupboard drawer in Arthur's ransacked home.

After Stafford Crown Court heard the chances the DNA did not belong to the 20-year-old were 860 million to one, Wilsher was convicted of murder and a further charge of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Ison, who led the team from the force's Major and Organised Crime department, said: "I am pleased the jury has returned this verdict, but our first thoughts are with Arthur and his family.

"This was a planned and totally unnecessary attack on an 87-year-old man in his own home. The injuries sustained by Arthur were brutal and horrific.

"Arthur had his eye blacked and his arms were covered in bruising. He also suffered a number of fractured ribs likely to have been caused from a fall or a blow."

The court heard Arthur had been able to provide a statement to police before his condition deteriorated and he died on December 12, 2017, three weeks after the attack.

Arthur told detectives he was watching television at his Endwood Drive home in the evening of November 21 when he heard noises and went to investigate.

He was then confronted by two men before he was punched in the face and fell to the floor. Arthur was then kicked in the shoulder but could not remember any more.

It is believed he was dragged across the carpet as he had burns to his back and had a watch forcibly pulled from his wrist, tearing his skin.

The pathologist concluded the cause of Arthur’s death was blunt force injuries compounding cardiomegaly and other cardiac issues, as a direct result of the attack.

DCI Ison described the investigation as complex and far-reaching.

He added: "It’s the result of good old-fashioned policing. Detectives worked meticulously and doggedly to trace the car and then work through thousands of hours of CCTV and phone records and questioning to be able to arrive at Wilsher as a suspect.

"It was months of hard work that identified him and it is startling that the science of DNA proves effectively Wilsher is the only man in Europe who could've contributed to the sample found at Arthur's home."

"The investigation into the outstanding individuals responsible for Arthur's death continues."

Wilsher will be sentenced at Stafford Crown Court tomorrow (March 22).

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