A homeowner who dragged a frail grandmother onto the street after she mistook his coastal house for a seafront B&B has been sentenced to 14 years in prison at Caernarfon Crown Court today.
Judge Mr Justice Bourne sentenced David Redfern, 46, to a minimum term in prison of 14 years, and the time spent on remand will be deducted to the time he will serve – making a net minimum term of 13 years and 127 days.
However, the judge cautioned Redfern that the ‘minimum term is not a fixed term,’ adding that if and when he is released, he will be ‘subject to license for life.’
David dragged Margaret Barnes, 71, downstairs by her feet after he found her asleep in a bed at his seafront home in Barmouth, North Wales, on July 11 last year.
The 21-stone homeowner was left furious when he discovered Mrs Barnes had mistook his home for a B&B and undressed, unpacked and climbed into bed.
After finding her in one of the bedrooms, he called the 71-year-old a ‘thieving c**t’ and ‘scumbag’ before he ‘stamped’ on her and threw her onto the street, Caernarfon Crown Court was told.
Tragically, Mrs Barnes, who had actually been intending to stay at the Wavecrest B&B just a few doors down from the property, died in the street from catastrophic injuries, including three broken ribs, that resembled a ‘high-speed car crash’.
During the opening the sentencing this afternoon, Mr Bourne said that Redfern had the intention to cause ‘really serious bodily harm rather than to kill’ Mrs Barnes.
David Redfern, 46, dragged 71-year-old Margaret Barnes downstairs by her feet after he found her asleep in a bed at his seafront home in Barmouth, North Wales, on July 11 last year
He called Mrs Barnes (pictured) a ‘thieving c***’ before pulling her by her ankles out of his bed and down the stairs, ‘stamped’ on her and threw her suitcase on to the street
Ms Barnes ended up mistakenly entering Belmont House, Redfern’s seaside property in Barmouth
The 71-year-old had booked to stay in the Wavecrest B&B on Marine Parade – a few doors down from Redfern’s property
Redfern was found guilty of her murder following a three-week trial, where the jury took 20 hours to reach their verdict.
Prior to the incident, Redfern had drunk six or seven pints and a gin and tonic during a night out with his partner, before returning home and falling asleep while watching Antiques Roadshow.
But when they headed to bed at around 11pm, they found their bedroom door locked.
He found the spare key and unlocked it to see semi-naked Mrs Barnes in their bed, drinking gin, her suitcase open, clothes strewn around with her false teeth on a side table.
It was previously heard how seven-and-a-half stone Mrs Barnes ‘simply mistook’ his large five-storey seaside home – called Belmont House – for her hotel after travelling more than 100 miles from Birmingham to the seaside resort for a £95-a-night break.
The retired factory worker had purchased a bottle of gin on a seaside evening stroll before seeking out her B&B.
The large house had formerly been a hotel before being bought for £449,000 to be renovated by Redfern and his partner who moved from the Essex area.
But IT worker Redfern found the 71-year-old mistakenly in his home and dragged her downstairs by her feet.
He then kicked or stamped on her and threw her suitcase on to the street.
Redfern said in his evidence: ‘There was a lady lying in our bed, drinking and smoking.
‘There was a black travel case open on the floor, clothes hanging up and strewn around the room.’
The court heard shocked partner Nicola Learoyd-Lewis saw Mrs Barnes and said: ‘Who the hell are you? What are you doing in our bedroom?’
Mrs Barnes is said to have replied: ‘This is my room and I’m meant to be here’.
Mrs Barnes suffered said it led to ‘catastrophic’ injuries to her liver, and broke a number of ribs.
The injuries’ she sustained were compared to that of a high-speed car crash, according to a pathologist.
Prior to the incident, Redfern had drunk six or seven pints and a gin and tonic during a night out with his partner
David Redfern (pictured) was furious when he saw Margaret Barnes, 71, had undressed, unpacked and climbed into a bed at his house in Barmouth, North Wales, a court heard
Mrs Barnes had been booked into the Wavecrest B’n’B (pictured) which was several doors down on Marine Parade
Tragically, Mrs Barnes subsequently fell unconscious and went into cardiac arrest as neighbours tried to resuscitate her, but she died at the scene from ‘traumatic injuries’.
No ambulance was unfortunately able to attend the scene, the court heard today.
But when a neighbour requested that an ambulance was called, it was heard that Redfern ‘refused.’
It was found that Mrs Barnes died from ‘assault’ of the ‘kick or stamp’.
A post-mortem examination found she had a traumatic liver injury, and was bleeding extensively internally.
Redfern’s ‘appalling’ comments were also caught on a Hive camera recording at his front door, where he said: ‘There’s nothing nothing wrong with her and all she is is p***ed.’
He called Mrs Barnes a ‘scumbag.’
In heartbreaking impact statements, Mrs Barnes’ family called her a ‘much loved mother and grandmother.’
The court heard Mrs Barnes loved puzzles, needlework and dancing and had travelled to China and Cape Verde with husband Raymond.
Daughter Natalie Barnes read a victim impact statement to court describing her mum as a person who ‘loved the little things in life.’
She said: ‘When my mum called out for my dad and brother they were unable to save her.
‘As a family we will never get over what has happened. My mum didn’t need to die and we don’t understand why she had to.’
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk