Thief who murdered man at his home is convicted

A THIEF who kicked and punched a father-of-three to death after trying to steal his car has been found guilty of murder.

Dean Armitage, 49, confronted 34-year-old David Sindall outside his home in Hoyland, near Barnsley, last July after he found him in the driver’s seat of his Range Rover.

Mr Armitage was left with serious head injuries after Sindall pushed him to the ground before kicking and punching him. He died weeks after the attack having never regained consciousness.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sindall, of Selbourne Street in Eastwood, was yesterday found guilty of murder by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court after a trial which started earlier this month. He will be sentenced today.

He was initially arrested on Thursday, 25 July, and charged the following day with grievous bodily harm and burglary.

Detective Inspector Kevin Brown, leading the investigation, said: “This case is heartbreaking and devastating for Mr Armitage’s family. He was a hard-working, caring and honest man. While trying to protect his family and his home, he tragically lost his life at the hands of Sindall.

“Sindall denied murder throughout, forcing Mr Armitage’s family to go through the harrowing ordeal of a trial.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am pleased with the verdict today and hope it will allow some form of closure for the family and enable them to slowly start rebuilding their lives following such a tragic and painful loss.”

A court heard Sindall got into the home of the Armitages on Skiers View Road at around 3.30am on July 21 through an unlocked door.

He stole a handbag, some shopping bags and the keys to the car from the kitchen before going outside and getting into the vehicle.

In a statement after the verdict was handed down, Mr Armitage’s wife, son and two daughters, said: “Words cannot begin to describe the suffering and pain we are still feeling. We will never be able to get over the loss of Dean.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He was a loving husband and dad, providing for his family and working hard to ensure we never went without. We can still not believe he will never walk through the door again.

“The loss and emptiness we have in our hearts is a feeling we can never imagine will ever be filled, and not a day goes by without thinking of Dean and how much we all love and miss him.”