Two men have been sentenced to 15 years in prison after a failed street robbery in Birmingham resulted in the death of an 83-year-old man.
A violent attack outside a rehabilitation centre
Neil O’Donnell, aged 83, was attacked on May 14 last year as he arrived at a rehabilitation centre on Shaftmoor Lane in Hall Green. He was visiting his partner when Tony Griffin, 54, ran up to his car and attempted to steal his watch.
Griffin, who was armed with a screwdriver, struggled with Mr O’Donnell. The pensioner bravely fought back, and staff from the centre managed to chase the attacker away. Mr O’Donnell was taken to hospital with an arm injury caused during the assault and was later discharged.
Health deterioration and police investigation
Tragically, Mr O’Donnell's health declined in the following days. He died a week after the attack from complications arising from an infection that stemmed from the injury inflicted by Griffin.
West Midlands Police detectives swiftly launched an investigation. CCTV footage revealed that Griffin had an accomplice, Wesley McDonnell, 46. The footage showed McDonnell observing the victim's watch at a nearby Co-op store around 30 minutes before the attack.
McDonnell then picked up Griffin, and the pair were seen following Mr O’Donnell's vehicle on its short journey to the rehabilitation centre. After the botched robbery, Griffin was captured on camera discarding his top and cap in a wheelie bin as he fled on foot.
Career criminals brought to justice
Both men, from College Road in Birmingham, were later arrested. McDonnell was identified through facial recognition technology, which led police to Griffin.
The pair stood trial at Warwick Crown Court last year. They were both found guilty of manslaughter. Griffin had previously admitted attempted robbery, while McDonnell was found guilty of the same offence.
The court heard both men have extensive criminal histories:
- Tony Griffin has 14 previous convictions for 32 offences, including burglary, robbery, and kidnapping.
- Wesley McDonnell has 29 convictions for 85 offences, including burglary, wounding with intent, and robbery.
On January 13, the pair were each handed a 15-year prison sentence. The judge ordered they must serve at least two-thirds of their term before being considered for release.
A devastating loss for the family
Detective Inspector Nigel Box of West Midlands Police said: “This was a violent attack on an elderly man who was simply going about his day. You can see from the footage that the struggle lasted some time, and Griffin was clearly determined to take the watch, despite Neil resisting.”
“They are both career criminals and wrongly assumed Neil would be an easy target,” he added. “Neil’s death has been devastating for his family, who have asked for privacy while they continue to grieve. We have supported them throughout the court process, and our thoughts remain with them.”
