Worksop: Brothers who beat 85-year-old man to death in ‘brutal’ murder jailed for life

Two Nottinghamshire brothers who beat a convicted paedophile to death have been jailed for life.

Matthew and Luke Roe murdered Henry Thwaites, 85, before dumping his body under a metal fence in Worksop in July last year.

Nottingham Crown Court heard the Roe brothers murdered Mr Thwaites on Lime Tree Avenue after learning he had inherited £34,000 and that they believed he had sexually abused someone they knew.

Luke, of Potter Street, Worksop, and Matthew, of Franklin Road, Jacksdale, were convicted of Mr Thwaite’s murder on May 26 after a nine-week trial.

On June 5, the court heard Luke, 34, and Matthew, 25, will serve a minimum of 25 years and 24 years respectively.

‘Brutal and premeditated’

Mr Thwaites was a friend of the defendants’ mother and was convinced to drive the brothers to a remote location on July 23, 2022 after offering to buy them a car and believed he was driving them to see a Mercedes.

The court heard the brothers loathed Mr Thwaites after he served two prison terms for sexual offences against boys under 16.

The Roe brothers removed Mr Thwaites from his Fiat Punto at around 10.40pm and beat him to death in an attack that was described as “brutal and premeditated” at court.

Prosecutors suggested the pair tortured Mr Thwaites to obtain his bank card pin before it was taken and used at a number of cash machines.

Sentencing, Judge Nirmal Shant KC said a “fearsome weapon”, which has never been found, was used in the attack that was “heavy enough to shatter his skull” and left the victim with 26 head injuries including skull fractures.

Matthew and Luke were arrested less than an hour after Mr Thwaites was reported missing where police found the brothers driving the victim’s car.

CCTV footage also captured the pair boasting about the murder.

Matthew was also found guilty of four counts of fraud, related to using Mr Thwaite’s bank card, and Luke was also found guilty of criminal damage to a car.

Detective Inspector Kaz Smithson, who led the police investigation, said: “This was a brutal and cowardly assault on a frail and vulnerable 85-year-old man.

“The murder was premeditated and callous, with Matthew and Luke Row subjecting Mr Thwaites to a horrific death for their own selfish gain.

“Despite overwhelming evidence, neither brother had the courage to accept responsibility for their sadistic and vile actions, forcing a jury to sit through nine weeks of distressing evidence.

“Matthew claimed he was too drunk to remember the night in question and I am pleased jurors saw through his lies. Luke wasn’t even brave enough to go in the witness box.

“They have shown no remorse whatsoever and our communities are undoubtedly safer with them behind bars.”