Man jailed for 16 years after 'senseless and brutal' murder of pensioner

A man's been jailed for at least 16 years after the "senseless and brutal" murder of a pensioner in his own home.

29-year-old Kyle Bowen from Glynneath had previously pleaded guilty to the murder of David Williams.

The 73-year-old Mr Williams was found beaten in the Danygraig Lane area of Pontwalby, Glynneath on Monday, 27th January 2020.

A sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court was told the attack caused “extensive injuries” to the victim’s head and face along with injuries to the neck and ribs. 

Prosecutor John Hipkin QC said: “There had been such serious blunt force trauma he died of his injuries.”

Mr Williams' family have described him as "a very loving and generous person who would go out of his way to help anyone he could."

His widow read a victim impact statement at Wednesday's hearing, telling Bowen the death of her husband had "destroyed my world". She told the killer: "You will  never understand the hurt and pain you have caused me."

The couple were due to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 2021, the court heard.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said the killing was “as senseless as it was brutal” and said the “gratuitous and sustained” attack must have continued long after Bowen would have realised his victim was seriously injured.

Bowen inflicted an “horrific catalogue of injuries” on his victim before walking away, said the judge, adding: “Having done that to him, a man of 73 years, you left him dying for his wife to find. One minute she had been on the phone; the next she found her beloved husband dying in their garden.”

Bowen, of Mill Terrace, Glynneath, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years. The judge told him he won’t be released until 2035 at the earliest and “it may be a lot longer than that – if at all”.

DCI Paul Peters, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “This murder shocked and saddened the whole local community of Glynneath but thankfully incidents like this are rare in South Wales.

“The pain and trauma it inflicted on his family is immeasurable, they continue daily to suffer the impact of their father and husband being taken from them in such a brutal way.

“I hope today’s sentence helps them in some small way.

“I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank the local communities of Glynneath and Pontwalby who were nothing but helpful and supportive during the investigation.”