Two jailed for killing man in failed watch robbery

Two men who killed a grandfather in a failed attempt to rob his watch have been jailed.

Neil O'Donnell, 83, died a week after he was attacked on 14 May 2025 while he was visiting his partner of 41 years, who has dementia, at a rehabilitation centre in Hall Green, Birmingham.

Tony Griffin, 54, and Wesley McDonnell, 46, both of College Road, Birmingham, were found guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Warwick Crown Court in November.

They were both sentenced to 15 years in prison at the same court on Tuesday.

McDonnell was caught on CCTV looking at O'Donnell's watch at a nearby Co-op store about half an hour before the attack, the court heard.

He then picked up Griffin and the pair followed their victim's car to the rehabilitation centre, where Griffin approached him armed with what was believed to be a screwdriver.

O'Donnell managed to fight off Griffin, who was chased away by staff at the centre, but suffered a wound to his arm.

The 83-year-old received treatment in hospital and was discharged but his health deteriorated and he died from complications arising from an infection, caused by the injury, a week later.

In a statement read out in court, his daughter said the impact of his death had been "immeasurable" and his partner's dementia had "escalated through grief".

"His death should not have happened," she added. "He should be here with his infectious humour and positive personality."

Griffin also admitted attempted robbery before the trial and McDonnell was convicted of the same offence by the jury.

Judge Kristina Montgomery KC said the victim was "active and independent" and the two men's actions caused his family "profound grief".

She said McDonnell did not play a minor role and the case was "joint enterprise in the truest sense".

While the court heard McDonnell was sorry to the victim's family for what happened, the judge said Griffin never showed any true accountability or remorse.

"You have lied and lied in the course of the investigatory stages of this case and in your evidence before the jury," she told Griffin.

The two defendants had a number of previous convictions dating back decades for offences such as burglary, robbery and weapons offences, the court heard.

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