Dad and sons from Birmingham jailed for 36 years after killing man for his Rolex watches

A dad and his two sons have been jailed for more than 36 years for beating a man to death with a wrench to steal his two Rolex watches.

Lee O’Brien, 51, and his two sons Luke, 36, and Lewis, 31, ambushed Darren Smith outside a shopping precinct in broad daylight on March 15 last year. The 51-year-old had been to a phone shop to buy a new mobile phone case when he was jumped by the men in Shard End, Birmingham.

He was repeatedly punched and kicked as well as beaten with a wrench as horrified families with children watched on outside the row of shops on Heath Way. The trio then stole two designer Rolex watches from Darren’s wrist and threatened shop staff before fleeing in their cars.

Darren walked unsteadily out of the shop, before collapsing nearby, where members of the public gave first aid until emergency services arrived. Paramedics began administering life support but he was confirmed dead at the scene after suffering severe head injuries and a heart attack.

The three defendants were arrested the following day after fleeing to Torquay, Devon, in a bid to evade justice. - but were traced in the car they were travelling in. A court heard when officers approached the two brothers who were in a Mitsubishi Luke had plunged into the sea "in a bid to swim away."

However, he got into difficulties and was pulled from the water and all three were arrested. The father and his sons later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court today (Friday, April 5). Lee O'Brien was jailed for 11 years and eight months while both his sons were sentenced to 12-and-a-half years behind bars. Sentencing, Judge Melbourne Inman KC said "Mr Smith's parents have found it very difficult to come to terms with their son's death and their suffering is aggravated by the fact that he was killed close to where they lived. "The entire incident was captured on CCTV. On that day Mr Smith went in the afternoon to a phone shop in a square in Shard End. He was wearing two very expensive Rolex Yacht-Master watches on his wrists.

"You knew he had the watches on him and you knew where he was that afternoon. The three of you intended to rob him of those watches. You were jointly carrying at least one weapon, a large metal socket wrench that was to be used in the attack of Mr Smith. "You Lewis, almost immediately, struck Mr Smith a forceful blow with the wrench to his head." The judge said during the attack, which lasted 77 seconds, the victim was also punched on a number of occasion and held in a tight head lock. He said Darren suffered a bleeding head wound and he was also found to have bruising to his skull and jaw. The judge added: "Thereafter Mr Smith collapsed on the pavement and sadly died. "He had an underlying health condition which rendered him vulnerable to sudden death. As a result of my finding in the Newton hearing that death was caused during the course of a robbery this is a case of high culpability." Mark Heywood KC, prosecuting, told the court Darren had been planning on giving the watches to his brother the day he was attacked. He said: "On that day he was wearing two valuable Rolex's on each wrist. He had been intending to give both watches to his brother later that same day." After Darren went in to the shop, where he was a regular customer, the defendants, all from Birmingham, arrived outside in their separate vehicles in quick succession. Mr Heywood added: "First into the shop was Lewis O'Brien who was armed with a large socket wrench which he was carrying ready for use but which he kept out of Darren Smith's sight. "He was followed a minute later by Luke O'Brien and within seconds they set upon Mr Smith and a protracted violent scuffle began. He became unsteady on his feet, staggered and fell on his back. He had suffered a fatal heart attack. "Neither efforts by members or the public or paramedics were able to resuscitate him."

Police statement and family tribute

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, from West Midlands Police's Homicide Team, said after the case: “We know that Lee, Luke and Lewis all knew Darren, but only they know why they targeted him that day. “My thought’s remain with Mr Smith’s family at this distressing time." Darren’s family previously released a tribute saying: "We as a family are devastated at the loss of our son Darren. "He was a caring man and was loved by all who knew him. He was tragically taken from us and this has left a huge void in our lives.”