‘Angry bully’ jailed after killing old woman who mistook his home for a B&B

David Redfern had furiously dragged Margaret Barnes, 71, from his townhouse property by her ankles (Picture: Wales News Service)

An ‘angry bully’ has been jailed after fatally attacking a frail grandmother who had mistaken his home for her B&B.

Margaret Barnes, from Birmingham, wandered into the wrong seafront property in Barmouth, Wales, before climbing into bed.

Caernarfon Crown Court was told David Redfern, 46, discovered the semi-naked and intoxicated pensioner in his large five-storey townhouse.

Mrs Barnes had been tucked up in his bed drinking gin with her false teeth on a side table and her suitcase on the floor.

Redfern’s home was on the same side of the street, but several doors down from her B&B.

After finding Mrs Barnes in his bed, the 46-year-old dragged the pensioner outside by her ankles and stamped on her. Mrs Barnes died in the street from her injuries.

Redfern, an IT worker, has now been jailed for a minimum of 14 years.

He was found guilty of her murder at Caernarfon Crown Court after a three-week trial – and the jury took 20 hours to reach their verdict.

Margaret Barnes, 71, went out for a drink and then got confused as to where her B&B was located (Picture: Wales News Service)

Redfern was jailed for life for a minimum of 14 years due to the ‘lack of intention to kill’ and the ‘sudden and bizarre circumstances’ of the unpremeditated attack.

A trial heard he dragged her downstairs out of his house while calling her a ‘scrumbag’ and a ‘thieving c***’.

Redfern – who is 6ft 1in tall – denied kicking or stamping on 5ft 5in Mrs Barnes as her turfed her out – but she used her last breath to mouth the word ‘lying.’

The court heard Mrs Barnes loved puzzles, needlework and dancing and had travelled to China and Cape Verde with husband Raymond.

Daughter Natalie Barnes read a victim impact statement to court describing her mum as a person who ‘loved the little things in life.’

She said: ‘When my mum called out for my dad and brother they were unable to save her.

Mrs Barnes was thrown onto the street outside the Barmouth property where she died from her injuries (Picture: Wales News Service)

‘As a family we will never get over what has happened. My mum didn’t need to die and we don’t understand why she had to.’

The court heard Mrs Barnes ‘simply mistook’ Redfern’s large seaside home for her hotel after travelling more than 100 miles to a seaside resort for a £95-a-night break.

Prosecutor Michael Jones said: ‘It was a mistake that ultimately cost her her life.

‘The reason Mrs Barnes died is she had the misfortune of coming across a man who was an angry bully.’

Retired Cadbury factory worker Mrs Barnes had booked into the Wavecrest B’n’B several doors away on Marine Parade, Barmouth, when she travelled from Birmingham.

She bought a bottle of gin on a seaside evening stroll before seeking out her B’nB.

But she mistook the home called Belmont House for her intended hotel – and tipsily went into the wrong home, straight up to bed, unpacked and poured a gin nightcap.

Mr Jones said: ‘It would have been unexpected to find the elderly woman asleep in their bed.

‘He pulled her down the stairs by the ankles. He intentionally stamped on her or kicked her.’

Mr Jones said it led to ‘catastrophic’ injuries to her liver, and broke a number of ribs. He compared her injuries to a high-speed car crash.

David Redfern flew into a rage and attacked the frail pensioner (Picture: Wales News Service)

Mrs Barnes managed to get outside where her case had been thrown by Redfern who then ‘mocked her as she began complaining of chest pains.’ His comments were caught on Hive security camera.

Mrs Barnes fell unconscious, and went into cardiac arrest as neighbours tried to resuscitate her.

A post-mortem examination found she had a traumatic liver injury, and was bleeding extensively internally.

Redfern had earlier drunk six or seven pints and a gin and tonic on an evening out and returned home before falling asleep watching Antiques Roadshow.

But when he headed to bed at around 11pm, he found the bedroom door locked. He found the spare key and unlocked it to see semi-naked Mrs Barnes in his bed.

The large house had formerly been a hotel before being bought for £449,000 to be renovated by Redfern and his partner who moved from the Essex area.

Redfern said in his evidence: ‘There was a lady lying in our bed, drinking and smoking.

‘There was a black travel case open on the floor, clothes hanging up and strewn around the room.’

‘I thought Mrs Barnes was very drunk, I am truly sorry for the comments I made. I lost my temper towards her that evening, and said some appalling things.’

Caernarfon Crown Court heard he was recorded saying: ‘All I have done is eject her from my house.’

In the recording he said: ‘There’s nothing nothing wrong with her and all she is is p*ssed.’

Redfern, of Barmouth, denied both the murder or manslaughter of Mrs Barnes but was found guilty of murder after a trial.

He was jailed for life for a minimum of 14 years due to the ‘lack of intention to kill’ and the ‘sudden and bizarre circumstances’ of the unpremeditated attack.

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Margaret Barnes had wandered into the wrong seafront property in Barmouth, Wales, before climbing into bed with a bottle of gin.