Boxer battered disabled man dead

AN UNLICENSED boxer has been jailed for life for the brutal murder of a wheelchair-bound man who was left dying in his own home.

Ricky Gelardo was unanimously found guilty by a jury at Leeds Court yesterday of murdering Alan Atkin, 62, whose body was only discovered in his flat in Swan Court, Scarborough, five days after he was beaten and left bleeding and badly injured.

Gelardo had never met Mr Atkin, who was disabled by arthritis, before that visit to his home in April and was only staying in the seaside town as a condition of bail on an allegation of domestic harassment keeping him away from Darlington.

He was staying at an address in Lismore Road, Scarborough with Linda Stubbings, a friend of his mother, and tried to blame her during the trial for the violence inflicted on Mr Atkin, but the eight man four woman jury rejected his account.

Sentencing Gelardo, 29, to life in prison and ordering him to serve a minimum of 17 years, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC said he had unleashed a ferocious attack on a helpless man.

The violence had started as Mr Atkin sat in bed and continued after he was dragged to the floor.

“He was disabled and could not fight back.”

The judge said having used fists and feet causing him head and brain injuries Gelardo then stamped on his victim’s chest causing broken ribs. At some stage he had also thrown Mr Atkin’s wheelchair around before leaving him injured without seeking any help for him.

Gelardo had then disposed of his trainers and clothes but was identified because he had left a bloodstained palm print on the wall near his victim’s body.

He said only Gelardo knew the true reason behind the attack.

The jury heard during the trial that Gelardo had been out drinking with Miss Stubbings when she decided to visit her sister who she thought was staying at Mr Atkin’s flat.

But when they got there in the early hours of April 16 she had already moved out. However Mr Atkin who was in bed offered his visitors a drink. Miss Stubbings told the jury a short time later Gelardo suddenly began punching Mr Atkin.

Gelardo admitted doing weight training and said he had fought one bout as an unlicensed boxer for 300, but denied using his fists on Mr Atkin and blamed the violence on Miss Stubbings.

Franz Muller QC, defending Gelardo, said he normally worked as a labourer and witnesses had spoken of his helping the elderly and disabled in the past. The jail term would be hard on him being separated from his two-year-old son.

After the case Detective Chief Inspector Alan Carey said: “It is very hard to comprehend how anyone could inflict such violence on another person, let alone a defenceless, wheelchair-bound man. While I am very satisfied that Gelardo now has to face up to the consequences of his actions, behind bars, my thoughts are with Mr Atkin’s loved ones who have had to cope with the trauma of the past six months.

Mr Atkin’s children Lana and Karl Atkin said: “We are very happy and relieved that our father’s killer has been brought to justice. The way his life was taken away was horrific and we just hope he can now rest in peace.”

They thanked North Yorkshire Police and all those involved in the legal team. “We are truly grateful for the support they have given to us throughout.”