Jail for Holyhead man who admitted manslaughter of 'loving and sweet' grandfather

Gareth Wyn Jones, of Lon Deg, Holyhead, Anglesey, admitted manslaughter.

But he must also serve another four years consecutively after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply heroin, too.

Caernarfon crown court heard how David Jones, 58, known as “DJ”, suffered a sustained beating to his head at the home of his ex-partner Jane Mitchell, 44, in Thomas Street, Holyhead.

Prosecutor David Elias QC said he had multiple fractures to his jaw and bleeding around the brain. Mr Jones died two days later on November 19 after being taken to a neurological unit at a hospital at Stoke-on-Trent.

The defendant Jones told police his victim had argued with Mitchell over the death of their daughter Jade.

Mr Elias said the victim was still grieving for his daughter when he was killed.

His daughter Kimberley Jones said he was the “life and soul and rock” of the family and “everyone’s best friend.” He was a good decorator and artist.

“I have a hole in my heart,” she declared in a victim impact statement.

Police found heroin worth more than £60,000 after searching Gareth Wyn Jones’s home.

Defence QC Gordon Cole said he was “looking after” the drugs.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said “considerable force” had been used against David Jones who had left the house badly injured and staggered to his new partner’s home. The judge said only those present knew exactly what had taken place but there had been a disagreement which turned violent.

The judge said:”It was a wholly needless, tragic death.” Having got the better of his older victim, Gareth Wyn Jones had been “punishing” him.

Mitchell, a qualified veterinary nurse who’d been a heavy heroin user, was jailed for three years after admitting the drug plot. She had been drug dealing to fund her habit but last July her daughter died of a drugs overdose, said defence barrister Jade Tufail.

The mum regarded the tragic events as a “wake-up call".