Watch: loving tributes to David Varlow, murdered by a burglar in his Halesowen home

A burglar who tied a frail pensioner to a chair and left him to die before going on a spending spree has been jailed for 33 years after he was 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.

A court heard 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 spending spree - stealing over £8,000 in total.

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, denied attempted burglary, aggravated burglary, murder and fraud.

What happened at court?

Last month Mohammed was found guilty of all charges following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

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Around £550 was withdrawn by Mohammed and the rest by people he had shared it with.

When was Mohammed arrested?

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 was jailed for six years.

What has David Varlow’s family said about the burglary?

Mr Varlow’s family said: "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.

"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.”

What has West Midlands Police said about the case?

Detective Inspector Ranj Sangha, of West Midlands Police, said: “Mr Varlow suffered an appalling ordeal, being tied up and essentially left for dead by a man whose 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.”

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