Heartless burglar left pensioner, 78, to die after binding him to chair with cable ties and ransacking his home

A HEARTLESS burglar who tied up a pensioner and left him to die has been found guilty of murder.

Adris Mohammed, 44, broke into the home of 78-year-old David Varlow in Halesowen, West Midlands, in the early hours of November 3 last year.

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Adris Mohammed was found guilty of all charges at Birmingham Crown Court[/caption]

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Pensioner David Varlow, 78, was tied up at his home and left to die[/caption]

A court heard how the evil thug tied Mr Varlow’s ankles and wrists to a chair with cable ties and a telephone cable before threatening him with a knife for his PIN number.

Mohammed then ransacked the house before stealing the OAP’s bank cards and going on a £550 spending spree.

Mr Varlow’s body was discovered by police on November 15 after neighbours raised concerns they had not seen him for some time.

It was later found the vulnerable pensioner, who lived alone, had died from a heart attack brought on by the stress of his ordeal.

Detectives found Mohammed had targeted Mr Varlow three times in all – even returning to the property while his body was inside.

Mohammed, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, denied attempted burglary, aggravated burglary, murder and fraud.

But he was today found guilty of all charges following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Judge Melbourne Inman told Mohammed he will be jailed for life next Wednesday.

The court heard Mr Varlow first phoned 999 when he heard glass smashing at his property at around 10.30pm on October 24 last year.

When he turned a light on, he heard the burglar run away while officers were sent to the scene.

Mohammed returned at around 5.20am on November 3 where he broke through a window, left him tied up with a phone cable and made off with his bank card.

Jurors were told that in total £8,000 was spent on Mr Varlow’s card following his death.

Incredibly, Mohammed returned to Mr Varlow’s home at around midnight on November 11 with a second man, O’Shea Swan.

There, they would have seen Mr Varlow was dead and they untied him before stealing a second bank card.

A trawl of CCTV uncovered footage of Mohammed withdrawing cash minutes after the burglary which killed Mr Varlow.

He was also captured on camera selling a gold bangle at Cash Convertors in Stafford.

The bangle had been bought by a friend of Mohammed’s using Mr Varlow’s card, and Mohammed wanted to turn the purchase into cash by selling it.

Around £550 was withdrawn by Mohammed and the rest by people he had shared it with.

DNA FOUND AT SCENE

Mohammed was arrested when officers found his DNA on the knife, scissors and cable left at the scene.

Swan was found as a result of analysis of mobile phone data showing who Mohammed had been in contact with.

Swan, 42, of Winson Green, Birmingham, was convicted of burglary and fraud and will also be sentenced next week.

Mr Varlow’s family said after the verdicts: “David was a 78-year-old disabled pensioner and much-loved brother, brother in law and uncle.

“Words cannot adequately describe our relief that the jury have today found Adris Mohammed guilty of murder, burglary and fraud.

“And for this verdict we thank the jury. However, this will not bring David back.

“We would like to thank our prosecution barrister Mr Peter Grieves-Smith for presenting such a strong prosecution case.

‘WE WILL NEVER FORGET NOR EVER FORGIVE’

“Justice has been done for David but we will never forget nor ever forgive the man who did this terrible thing.

“No punishment could ever be enough for what he has done. Nobody deserved to die alone the way David did.

“We would like to thank the residents of Halesowen who supported the police in providing witness statements and CCTV footage which were used during the trial.

“Finally, we would also like to thank West Midlands Police, in particular DC Martin Peart, our family liaison officer, DI Sangha, DS Lyons, and DC Lynn Robb, along with all the other officers that were involved in this highly complex murder investigation.

“Many officers, analysts, and specialists have spent hundreds of hours since November 2021 working to prepare the case for trial and for this we are truly grateful.

“We will be forever appreciative of the kindness and support that all officers have provided to the family over the last six months.

“We miss David every day and whilst geography keep us apart, he will always be a special part of our family and will forever hold a place in our hearts.”

‘APPALLING ORDEAL’

Detective Inspector Ranj Sangha, from West Midlands Police, said: “Mr Varlow suffered an appalling ordeal, being tied up and essentially left for dead by a man who’s only interest was to steal from him.

“We believe that Mohammed returned to Mr Varlow’s house for a third and final time, knowing that he was either still tied up or dead.

“But instead of doing the right thing and calling for help, he went on to steal from him again, with Swan going along to help.

“Thankfully, burglaries involving this level of violence are rare, but that will come as little comfort to Mr Varlow’s family.

“I hope that the verdicts today will at least give his family some comfort that we have been able to get justice from him.”

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Mohammed was caught on CCTV pawning goods[/caption]

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David Varlow’s ransacked home with papers strewn on the floor[/caption]