‘Carer’ murdered disabled man and hid body for weeks after meeting on social media

An informal carer has been sentenced to at least 19 years in prison for the murder of a disabled man whose body he hid for up to a month.

Jason Trundle, 52, was jailed after West Mercia Police released video footage of his hearing showing him telling paramedics that Leon Pratt, 64, had been “dead for about 12 days”.

Mr Pratt’s decomposing body was found in a bed at his home in Telford, Shropshire, on October 26, 2024, after worried neighbors alerted emergency services.

The court heard Trundle, of no fixed address, moved in with Mr Pratt, who has various health problems and uses a wheelchair, after they met on social media.

Trundle was expected to provide daily care for Mr Pratt at his home in Hollinswood, Downemead.

Trundle, who admitted manslaughter but was found guilty of murder, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

In a statement following the sentencing, West Mercia Police said Trundle was initially granted bail but was charged with murder after a post-mortem examination found Mr Pratt had suffered serious injuries to his back, ribs and neck.

Officers said Mr Pratt’s last phone call was on September 27, 2024, the last day his car was used.

Trundle was also sentenced to 30 months in prison for obstructing a lawful burial and nine months for fraud; Both will run concurrently with his sentence for murder.

Commenting after the incident, Detective Inspector Joanne Delahay said: “Jason Trundle’s act of violence and the weeks of deception that followed, depriving Leon and his family of the opportunity to be respectfully heard, is deplorable.

“Leon clearly trusted Jason with his life and he took that away from him.

“We welcome the jury’s verdict this week and are grateful to Leon’s family, who had to wait another day for Trundle to be sentenced. I hope this brings some closure to Leon’s family and those who knew him.”

During the trial, jurors were shown body-worn video footage of paramedics arriving at the property and waiting for Trundle to open the door.

Trundle was then recorded as pointing to a closed bedroom door and telling them Mr Pratt was dead, saying: “And no, before you ask, I didn’t kill him.”

Asked why she didn’t tell anyone Mr Pratt had died, she told paramedics: “I have nowhere else to go.”