Man jailed for 'senseless' murder of 75-year-old

A man who murdered an elderly man after being challenged for damaging a van has been jailed for life.

Jake Saunders, 19, attacked 75-year-old Anthony Jacob in Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, Dorset, on 10 December 2024. He later died in hospital.

Saunders, from the town, admitted murder and three counts of assaulting an emergency worker at a hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court in March.

Following the sentencing on Monday, Mr Jacob's family thanked emergency services for helping him, and the witnesses who came forward.

Saunders, who was arrested in Newstead Road following the attack, assaulted three police officers while in custody.

Mr Jacob was airlifted to hospital but died from his injuries on 19 December.

Saunders, who also admitted two counts of criminal damage, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years.

A spokesperson for Mr Jacob's family thanked police, paramedics, the air ambulance and staff at Southampton General Hospital, saying: "You did everything you could to save him and you cared for him with dignity and respect.

"As a family you gave us the chance to be with him, to hold his hand one last time and to say our final goodbyes."

The family also said they would be "forever grateful" to the "brave witnesses who came forward".

The spokesperson said Mr Jacob's death had been "devastating" to many people and hundreds had attended his funeral.

They said: "Dad was an honest, hardworking man with a really kind soul and he didn't deserve what happened to him.

"Life will never be the same without him and no sentence will ever be enough for what Jake Saunders did. It was pure evil."

Det Ch Insp Neil Third, of Dorset Police, described the attack as "senseless and unprovoked", adding: "Our thoughts will remain with Anthony's family and friends."

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