'Murderer returned to victim's house to steal labradoodle'

20 February 2024 , 18:15

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Donald "Prentice" Patience, 45, was found dead at a house in Bury after police responded to reports of a stolen labradoodle (Image: PA)

A man strangled a dog owner to death and later returned to the home of his decomposing victim and took his labradoodle, a court has heard.

The body of Donald Patience, 45, was discovered underneath a duvet cover at the bottom of his stairs by police who responded to reports of a burglary at the end terrace house in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester. A postman called 999 on the morning of August 22 last year when he saw a male figure climbing through a rear window of the property in Ashworth Road and heard a noise like someone trying to force entry.

The same male later emerged from the back garden with a "medium-sized, fluffy" white dog on a lead, Manchester Crown Court heard. The Crown says Ian Connell, 39, was the man who had entered the address and that some time from August 19 onwards had murdered Mr Patience, commonly known by his middle name, Prentice.

Donald's ex wife Kirsty Leigh Banks posted a picture of the stolen pooch on Facebook (Facebook)

Opening the prosecution case on Tuesday, Michael Hayton KC told jurors that Mr Patience was an "educated man" who had roots in Scotland. He said: "He was a man who had access to money. He previously worked, had businesses, and had family money from property. It is right that because of his access to money there were people who wished to prey upon his good nature, borrow money from him - maybe some of those loans would be paid with interest - but the Crown say his financial position is of significance.

"The Crown say it is the reason, in all probability, that he was found deceased and decomposing at the foot of his own stairs by a police officer following a report of a burglary at the property. The only possible explanation for Mr Patience's death is that pressure was applied to his neck until he was dead. He was strangled to death. The most likely explanation is that it followed an argument of some sort about money.

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The property in Radcliffe, Bury (PA)

"Mr Patience's access to money and also perhaps his good nature led to others taking advantage of him, abusing his generosity and using his access to funds. The Crown say one such person who sought to take advantage in this way was Ian Connell, and money was central to many of the communications between the two men in the lead up to Mr Patience's death. The Crown does not have to prove a motive, but we say a reasonable conclusion from the evidence is that money was part of what happened in Ashworth Road last year."

Connell, of Duke Street, Bolton, denies the murder of Mr Patience who he later told police he loved "like a brother".
He has also pleaded not guilty to an alternative count of manslaughter.

The trial continues.

Ryan Fahey