Burglar faces life in jail for murdering widower, 87, after skinning his hand and breaking his ribs during ‘brutal’ break-in

• Arthur Gumbley asked the attacker in a friendly way why he was inside his house 
• Jason Wilsher, 20, and two other men then broke his ribs and hit him in the face 
• Pensioner, 87, died about three weeks after the break-in as a result of his injuries
• Wilsher convicted of murder and conspiracy to rob, will be sentenced tomorrow 

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A burglar faces life in prison for murdering an 87-year-old widower after skinning his hand and breaking his ribs during a ‘brutal’ break-in. 

Jason Wilsher attacked Arthur Gumbley after he approached him in a friendly way and asked the killer why he was inside his home.

Stafford Crown Court heard the 20-year-old was one of two men who attacked the victim at his property in Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield, in November 2017, stealing a watch and gold and silver jewellery.

Jason Wilsher (right) attacked Arthur Gumbley after he approached him in a friendly way and asked the killer why he was inside his home. The pensioner is seen in hospital after the raid 

Jurors unanimously decided Wilsher had ransacked Mr Gumbley’s bungalow after they heard DNA found on a cupboard drawer at the property was an 860 million-to-one match.

The pensioner died about three weeks after the break-in as a result of his injuries, which included four rib fractures.

Mr Gumbley, who walked with the aid of a stick, told detectives he had been watching television before hearing the intruders enter his house.

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He was punched on the nose and kicked on the shoulder but could not remember anything else about the attack.

The court heard it is believed he was dragged across the carpet, due to burns on his back, and had a watch forcibly pulled from his wrist, tearing his skin.

Jurors were told Mr Gumbley was taken to hospital after his daughter phoned him when he managed to reconnect a telephone wire which had been pulled out. 

The pensioner (left, before the attack) died about three weeks after the break-in as a result of his injuries, which included four rib fractures. Pictured right: The mess left by the burglars

Telephone analysis linked Wilsher to a mobile handset ‘central to the case’, and to the purchase of a blue Mazda car bought for £1,700 for criminal purposes.

The jury convicted Wilsher, who had denied murdering Mr Gumbley and taking part in a conspiracy to rob between November 18 and 26, 2017 on Wednesday, Staffordshire Police said.

The conspiracy to rob charge was related to another elderly man, Dennis Taylor, who lived in the Creswell area of Derbyshire and suffered injuries at the hands of burglars.

The 82-year-old told police he had his head banged on to the hearth of a fireplace four days after Mr Gumbley was attacked.

Among the items stolen in the raid was a 16th-century gold coin, a gold women’s necklace and bracelet, and three silver and gold rings.

Among the items stolen in the raid was a Henry VIII Angel Gold Coin, pictured is what the 470-year-old coin looks like, it was forged between 1544-1547

This gold sovereign was also taken by the burglars, two of whom are yet to be found 

Speaking after the verdicts were announced, Detective Chief Inspector Dan Ison of Staffordshire Police said of the attack on Mr Gumbley: ‘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.

‘It was months of hard work that identified him [Wilsher] 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.’

Wilsher, of Bagworth, Leicestershire, will be sentenced at the same court tomorrow. 

The silver ring pictured was also stolen by the thugs who raided Mr Gumbley’s home and left him in a pool of his own blood

As well as the coins taken, the thugs stole a gold women’s necklace (left) and bracelet (right)

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