Pair punched ‘loyal and caring’ victim in face then claimed he was a burglar

Joseph Doherty, 31, and Rueben Ingleton, 32, confronted Tony Sharman shortly after he pulled into Frith Close, Sheffield, to make a phone call.

The pair challenged the 49-year-old and accused him of acting suspiciously before punching him in the face and snatching his keys.

When Mr Sharman tried to run away, Doherty and Ingleton chased him a short distance before assaulting him again.

Mr Sharman raised the alarm after going to a nearby property for help and was taken to hospital.

The victim, who suffered from bad health, died on October 29, 2012. Police say it has not been proven that he died as a direct result of his injuries sustained on September 5 that year.

Doherty, of Lowedges Road, Sheffield, and Ingleton, of Fox Hill Crescent, Sheffield were charged with grievous bodily harm but denied the offence.

They were found guilty by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court and sentenced yesterday. Doherty was given an eight year prison term and Ingleton was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Detective Constable Jon Kirkham of South Yorkshire Police said: “This has been a difficult and protracted inquiry where the suspects in the case tried to claim that Mr Sharman was a burglar and that they were the innocent party.”

Terri Underhay, Mr Sharman’s sister, said: “Tony was a loyal and caring son, brother and friend and his death has had a great impact on all of us, especially our mother. She has battled considerable ill health with great determination and dignity in order to see this case resolved at court today.”