Heroin addict jailed for minimum 30 years for 'brutal and merciless' murder of pensioner in his own home

Glyndwr Wayman, 50, was given a life sentencing for stabbing Nathan Suggitt to death at his home on Love Lane Terrace in October last year.

Judge Simon Phillips QC sentenced Wayman at Leeds Crown Court this morning and said: "I'm satisfied you wanted to get hold of money to buy more drugs and you specifically targeted this elderly man. He was 41 years your senior.

"You were in his flat armed with a knife and a ruthless determination to rob him of his possessions and ultimately, his life.

"He did not stand a chance against you. It was a brutal and merciless attack."

Following a lengthy trial, a jury deliberated for just two hours and 25 minutes before unanimously finding Glyndwr Wayman guilty of murdering Nathan Suggitt on October 5, 2019.

The jury also unanimously found Wayman, 50, guilty of the robbery of a 61-year-old woman in Pontefract just over three weeks earlier.

Desperate for drug money, he robbed the woman at knifepoint on her doorstep which has left her traumatised and scared to leave her home.

Mr Suggitt was found dead with eight stab wounds, including five to his upper body, at his home on October 5, 2019 after friends contacted police concerned for his welfare.

Jurors were told how Glyndwr Wayman was captured on CCTV footage at a Cash Generators store trying to sell Mr Suggitt’s valuables on the same day.

He was seen smiling along with staff as he chatted with them.

Kama Melly QC, prosecuting, said Mr Suggitt, who was known locally as 'Terry', was last seen alive returning home from a shopping trip to his local Asda store on the morning of October 5.

He was described as a local character who was still fit for his age, would often stop and chat with people and regularly collected litter to keep the area tidy.

Wayman, who lived on the same street as him, was in the area on the day of his murder.

Ms Melly said the two men knew each other and had a brief conversation in the street.

Mr Suggitt’s body was found in his living room at 9pm that evening. There were signs of an altercation taking place as tables were damaged and other items had been knocked to the floor.

A post mortem revealed Mr Suggitt had stab wounds to his upper body, including a stab wound to his heart. There was also evidence that his pockets had been searched.

The court was told Mr Suggitt wore a distinctive ring on his finger which was missing from his body.

Ms Melly said: “That afternoon, before the body was discovered, we say that Mr Wayman was attempting to get rid of the items that he had taken.

“He was trying to get rid of the ring and the jewellery and tried to do so at a Cash Generators in Pontefract that afternoon.”

Forensic officers found DNA evidence inside Mr Suggitt’s trouser pocket which linked Wayman to having contact with the pensioner.

A victim impact statement from a close friend of Mr Suggitt's of more than 20 years was read out by Ms Melly, describing him as a 'good-natured person', who often gave money to charity and local fundraisers and loved the arts and theatre.

He had worked at Pontefract General Hospital during his life, and later at Yorkshire Bank in the town.

The heartfelt statement read: "He deserved to leave this earth with someone there with him, holding his hand and telling him how much he was loved.

"Instead, he was taken from me and his friends in such a horrific set of circumstances that he did not deserve."