Man guilty of beating vulnerable flatmate to death

A man who dragged his vulnerable flatmate outside before repeatedly stamping on him in public and leaving him semi-naked on the pavement has been found guilty of murder.

Scott Silkstone subjected amputee Dwayne Tuohey to "extreme violence" with a range of weapons including his prosthetic leg, crutch and a metal box during an attack on New Year's Day, police said.

The 55-year-old died after being found unconscious near bins outside the flats where he lived at Gargrave Court in Burmantofts, Leeds.

Silkstone, 51, will be sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on 7 September.

During the trial, jurors were told in the early hours of New Year's Day Silkstone was seen on CCTV carrying one of Tuohey's crutches before leaving the flat and later returning in an agitated state.

Police said this is when he launched a "violent assault" on Tuohey inside the property.

Blood was found throughout the living room and on a number of objects including a prosthetic leg and crutch, which experts concluded had been used to attack him.

Later that morning, CCTV footage showed Silkstone dragging Tuohey, who was by then seriously injured, from his flat into a lift.

The court heard that over the next 10 minutes, he repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on Tuohey as he dragged him through communal areas and outside the building.

The jury was told Tuohey offered virtually no resistance and appeared incapable of defending himself.

Two women who witnessed part of the attack called 999 but despite being seen, Silkstone continued hitting him before stripping off his trousers and leaving him almost naked on the pavement.

Post-mortem results showed he died as a result of repeated blows to the head, chest and abdomen.

Det Insp Jodie Hayes said: "Silkstone carried out a prolonged, degrading and vicious assault on a defenceless and vulnerable man who he was abusive to and attempted to control.

"He continued to deny responsibility for Dwayne's murder despite the overwhelming evidence against him."

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