Drunk thug who broke every bone in pensioner's face because he was upset girlfriend dumped him is jailed for 15 years for murder

Daily Mail​

19-05-2025

A vicious thug who broke every bone in a pensioner's face - leaving the victim unrecognisable to his own family - has been jailed for life for his murder.
Good Samaritan Anthony Jacobs, 75, bravely tried to challenge drunken 19-year-old Jake Saunders when he caught him jumping on a Volkswagen van in his street
But drunken Saunders - who was upset at being dumped by his girlfriend that afternoon - launched into a savage 10 minute assault during which he knocked Mr Jacobs to the ground and kicked and stamped on him.
He repeatedly lifted his head and slammed it onto the concrete even after he had lost consciousness.
Mr Jacobs, a retired bricklayer, had every bone in his face broken, with 30 different injuries, and suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene.
His own brother told hospital staff they must have taken them to the wrong bed because he could not recognise him.
Mr Jacobs was placed in an induced coma but his injuries were not survivable and he died nine days later.
Saunders was arrested a short time after the attack.
He assaulted two police officers and an ambulance paramedic who suffered a broken jaw while in custody.
Saunders pleaded guilty to Mr Saunders' murder as well as three counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
He was today jailed for life with a minimum prison sentence of 15 years.
The brutal attack happened on December 10 last year on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, Dorset.
Saunders' girlfriend told police he was already drunk at 4pm when she met him and ended their relationship.
A few hours later he was seen in Abbotsbury Road 'taking out his anger' on a VW Transporter van - snapping off windscreen wipers, a wing mirror and then jumping on the bonnet.
Mr Jacobs was walking home from the pub when he challenged Saunders about his behaviour. The pensioner was walking away from Saunders when he was first hit.
Edward Culver, prosecuting, said a witness 'saw Jake Saunders throwing Anthony Jacobs against the van before pushing him down, punching him on the floor' and then kicking him in the face.
The barrister added: 'He stamped on his head before repeatedly jumping on his head.
'At one point he bent down, grabbing him and throwing his head down on the floor. By then Mr Jacobs was no longer moving, he didn't retaliate to the onslaught he faced.
'Jake Saunders repeatedly picked him up and slammed him back down to the ground.'
Bournemouth Crown Court heard Saunders then walked away 'apparently unbothered' by what he had just done and continued to vandalise other vehicles - including jumping on a VW Golf 'like it was a trampoline'.
He was seen by a member of the public trying to hide in a bush as police sirens approached and then attacked three police officers as they tried to arrest him.
The court heard Mr Jacobs' injuries included multiple fractures to his nose, jaw and eye socket and damage to his neck that led to the cardiac arrest and resulting brain injury.
He also had a broken shoulder blade 'from the force of the blows' and six broken ribs.
The court heard moving victim impact statements from several family members, including Tony's brother and daughters.
Daughter Teresa Green said: 'My dad was a good man, who enjoyed a simple life. He never did any one any harm. It was important to him to work hard and do the right thing and he was always willing to help anybody.
'He was just walking home and doing the right thing. He did nothing to deserve what happened to him.
'I couldn't recognise my own dad. His face, so swollen and bruised, will haunt me for ever. It is completely sickening.'
Nick Robinson, defending, said Saunders was genuinely remorseful and understands he deserves a life sentence.
He read a letter written by Saunders to the court and Mr Jacobs' family which said: 'I am truly sorry for my disgusting actions. I'm sorry for taking his life and destroying your family. Every day I wish I coudl go back and change what has happened, not for myself, but for you.'
Judge Susan Evans KC described it as 'utterly brutal and senseless violence' towards a 'kind-hearted, caring and hardworking' man.
She said: 'The loss of Tony Jacobs has been utterly devastating to his family. There's nothing this court can do that can begin to make up for his tragic loss.'
Addressing Saunders, the judge continued: 'He did what a particularly courageous and decent member of the public would do when presented with someone carrying out wanton criminal damage. Despite being 75 years of age, he challenged you.
'He was walking away when you cowardly attacked him from behind.
'He was plainly unconscious and unresponsive.'
She said he did pose a high risk of danger to the public and handed him a life sentence in a young offenders' institute with a minimum of 15 years before he is eligible to be considered for release.