Drug addict gets 33 yrs in jail for murdering OAP during burglary

A MAN who killed a frail and defenceless pensioner in his own home during a horror botched burglary has been jailed for life for a minimum of 33 years.

- ANNABAL BAGDI News Reporter

Birmingham drug addict Paul Topham left Harold Monk bloodied and with 18 fractures after sneaking into his Wolverhampton flat and unleashing a 'gratuitous' beating.

Great-grandad Mr Monk - who lived alone - had been asleep but woke to find Topham, 46, inside his home, masked and all in black.

He challenged his killer who then straddled him, pinned him to the floor and rained down 'extremely forceful blows' on his face and body.

The 94-year-old's chilling cries of pain were heard by his next door neighbour who came to his aid in the early hours of the morning.

But the neighbour was forced to retreat back to his flat in fear, locking the door and dialling 999 after Topham aggressively told him "you f*** off"

As Mr Monk lay 'injured and incapacitated, callous Topham continued with his burglary, ransacking drawers and dumping them on the victim's bed.

Police rushed to the flat, finding Topham had escaped through a window and was on a roof where a one-hour standoff took place.