Two career criminals attacked an 83-year-old man with a screwdriver in Hall Green, West Midlands, during a failed robbery, leading to his death a week later.
Two Criminals Jailed for Attack on Elderly Man
A pair of career criminals who attacked an elderly man with a screwdriver in a failed attempt to steal his watch have been jailed.
Neil O’Donnell, 83, sadly died a week after the botched robbery in Hall Green, West Midlands, in May last year.
Details of the Attack
The pensioner was visiting his partner at a rehabilitation centre when he was attacked in the car park by Tony Griffin, 54.
About 30 minutes before the attack, Griffin’s accomplice, Wesley McDonnell, 46, spotted Neil while he was shopping at a nearby Co-op.
McDonnell was seen on CCTV looking at Neil’s watch before he picked up Griffin. They then followed the pensioner’s car.
The pair launched their attack just after Neil pulled into the rehabilitation centre.
Neil bravely fought back and managed to fend Griffin off. Staff at the centre chased the attackers away.
Neil was later treated in the hospital for an arm injury caused during the struggle and was discharged.
However, his health deteriorated, and he tragically died from complications from an infection caused by the screwdriver injury a week later.
Investigation and Arrests
CCTV footage of the assault showed McDonnell dumping his clothes in a wheelie bin as he fled the scene on foot.
Both McDonnell and Griffin were identified by officers and arrested over the botched robbery.
The pair, both from Birmingham, were found guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Warwick Crown Court last year.
Criminal Backgrounds and Sentencing
Griffin, who has 14 previous convictions for 32 offences including burglary, robbery, and kidnapping, admitted attempted robbery at an earlier hearing.
McDonnell, with 29 convictions for 85 offences including burglary, wounding with intent, and robbery, was found guilty of the same offence.
Today, they were each jailed for 15 years at the same court and must serve at least two-thirds of their sentence before being considered for release.
Official Statements
Detective Inspector Nigel Box from West Midlands Police’s Homicide team said, “This was a violent attack on an elderly man who was simply going about his day.”
He added, “You can see from the footage that the struggle lasted some time, and Griffin was clearly determined to take the watch, despite Neil resisting.”
Box stated, “We were able to show that the injury to Neil’s arm directly led to his death, and the CCTV showed Griffin and McDonnell as the two men involved.”
He noted, “They are both career criminals and wrongly assumed Neil would be an easy target.”
Box mentioned that Neil’s death has been devastating for his family, who have asked for privacy while they continue to grieve.
He concluded, “We have supported them throughout the court process, and our thoughts remain with them.”
Summary of Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Neil O’Donnell, 83 |
| Attack Date | May last year |
| Location | Hall Green, West Midlands |
| Criminals | Tony Griffin, 54; Wesley McDonnell, 46 |
| Sentencing | 15 years each |
| Release Eligibility | After two-thirds of the sentence |
