Dognapper who strangled dad to death then stole labradoodle as body decomposed at bottom of stairs is jailed for life
A DOGNAPPER who strangled a dad then stole his labradoodle as his body decomposed at the the bottom of the stairs has been jailed.
Ian Connell, 39, murdered Donald Patience, 45, then wrapped his body in a duvet and left him on the ground.
The heroin addict returned to the home in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, days later and snatched his beloved dog Layla.
Police attending the house over the dognapping discovered “much-loved” dad-of-three Donald rotting at the bottom of the stairs.
Connell has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years after being convicted of murder.
Sentencing, Mrs Justice Ellenbogen told him: “Throughout your interactions with Mr Patience during the last few days of his life you showed a callous disregard for his own vulnerability, welfare and needs.
“It is clear he had become somewhat reclusive and had been battling his own demons.
“He was an educated and talented man whose desire for company and friendship you shamelessly took advantage of, prioritising your own insatiable need for your next fix.”
Manchester Crown Court heard Connell had befriended Donald and was paid for carrying out jobs for him after the dad was left unable to work following a car crash.
The heroin and crack cocaine addict “preyed upon” good-natured Donald and flipped when the cash-flow stopped.
Prosecutor Michael Hayton KC said: “Mr Patience was beginning to lose patience with Mr Connell, and was not as perhaps as receptive to requests for funds as he had [been] in the past.
“The Crown say this is the most likely reason that today Mr Patience is no longer with us.”
On August 22, police were called to Donald’s home after a postman saw a man breaking in before emerging with a white dog on a lead.
They found the dad’s body wrapped in a duvet and the base of the stairs.
A post mortem established he had been killed several days before the horror discovery was made.
His cause of death was given as a “sustained period of pressure to the neck” from either some form of ligature or manually by hands.
Connell was arrested, with police finding a wallet that contained Donald’s driving licence and library card and dog Layla.
He spun a web of lies – claiming Donald had returned to his native Scotland and asked him to watch the labradoodle.
Connell then changed his story and told police he found his pal dead and attempted to move him upstairs before leaving the house.
Mr Hayton said: “He said he couldn’t have killed him because he loved him like a dad or a brother and said he would find who had killed him.”
But it later transpired Connell had “confessed” to the killing on August 20 in a phonecall with an associate.
We are all truly heartbroken at this news and we are all struggling to come to terms with his death.
Donald's ex-wife
A witness who overheard the call said he heard the man ask: “You think you killed your boss?”
Following his conviction, police confirmed the labradoodle is now being looked after by the relevant authority.
Donald’s loved ones said he was “a much loved son, brother and father” who “will be sorely missed by many” in a tribute.
While his ex-wife, who he shared three children with, said: “This breaks my heart to have to write this.
“As a lot of you may have already seen, this week we lost an extremely incredible man.
“Despite whatever happened between us, Prentice was an amazing father and adored his children.
“We are all truly heartbroken at this news and we are all struggling to come to terms with his death.”
