Disabled man brutally killed by his carer – body left to rot for 12 days | UK | News
Jason Trundle jailed for murder (Image: BPM Media)
A disabled man was found dead after being brutally murdered by his carer. Jason Trundle, 52, was sentenced to 19 years in prison after killing Leon Pratt and leaving his body to rot for 12 days.
Emergency services rushed to a property in Telford, Shropshire, on October 26, 2024, after neighbors reported not seeing the disabled 64-year-old for weeks. Paramedics arrived at the scene and found Mr. Pratt decomposing in his bed, wrapped in a duvet.
West Mercia Police released body camera footage showing paramedics arriving at the home. Someone asked a colleague: “Can you smell this?” When paramedics entered the home, they saw Trundle pointing at the closed bedroom door.
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The 52-year-old man said: “He’s there. He’s been dead for about 12 days.” When asked how he found it, Trundle replied: “I’m not going to comment on that.” He later added: “I didn’t kill him. He just died.”
Paramedics then asked him if he had told anyone about the death. Before answering “no”, Trundle added: “No one knows I’m here, I don’t have any money, I have to look after that dog. So where do I go and what do I do?”
Police officers arrived immediately and arrested Trundle, but Trundle still refused to answer any questions. An autopsy revealed Mr. Pratt had serious injuries to his neck, back and ribs consistent with strangulation.
Trundle was soon charged with murder but denied the allegations. The man admitted manslaughter and went on trial at Stafford Crown Court, where the jury heard Mr Pratt’s injuries would have required “considerable force”.
Trundle told paramedics Mr Pratt had been dead for 12 days (Image: PA)
Trundle admitted fraud by false pretenses, as well as preventing a lawful burial. The court heard how Mr Pratt used her bank card at a local store while she was dead at home.
He was found guilty of murder by jurors on Friday (April 10) and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years at Worcester Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Joanne Delahay, of West Mercia Police, said: “Trundle’s act of violence and the weeks of deception that followed, depriving Leon and his family of the opportunity to be heard respectfully, is deplorable.
“Leon clearly trusted Jason with his life, and he took that away from him. We welcome the jury’s verdict and are grateful to Leon’s family for having to wait another day for Trundle to be sentenced. I hope this brings some closure to Leon’s family and those who knew him.”
Mr Pratt was disabled in a wheelchair due to various health issues (Image: PA)
The two met on social media a year and a half before the murder.
The court heard how Trundle and Mr Pratt met on social media about a year and a half before the murder. Trundle had nowhere to live at the time and moved into Mr. Pratt’s house on the promise that he would provide daily care.
Mr. Pratt was disabled in a wheelchair due to various health issues. Prosecutor Richard Barraclough KC described Trundle as his “unofficial carer”.
Neighbors in Downemeade called 999 as they became increasingly concerned they had not seen Mr Pratt for weeks. Emergency services arrived at the scene at around 7.30pm before Trundle was arrested an hour later.
Mr Barraclough said paramedics “could smell something putrid, like rotting meat, coming from the property”. Before he was arrested, Trundle showed them the body.
