Ipswich – Man sentenced for killing Clive Wyard in 2018
Published:
Rhys Burroughs
A 35-year-old man who was convicted of killing an Ipswich man aged in his 70s outside his home over four years ago, has been jailed.
Rhys Burroughs, previously of Colchester Road in Ipswich, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court today, Friday 18 November, where he was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment.
Burroughs had pleaded guilty to the charges of manslaughter and attempted robbery at a previous hearing on Tuesday 31 May.
He was given an eight years and six months sentence for the attempted robbery which will be served concurrently. He was told he must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence in prison and if eligible for parole at that point, he would spend the remainder on licence.
The court commended the work of the police investigation team, including the senior investigating officer, the family liaison officer, the officer in the case and the enquiry team leader.
Clive Wyard, aged 74, was found collapsed on his driveway in Valley Road at 7.15am on Friday 20 July 2018.
He had sustained injuries to his head and face, including black eyes, a split frenulum lip, a further cut to his lip, a deep cut to his cheek and other cuts to his body. He was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he tragically died 12-days later.
A post-mortem examination determined that Mr Wyard died as a result of a severe head injury, having sustained a skull fracture and a bleed on the brain.
The court heard that the pathologist concluded Mr Wyard’s facial injuries were consistent with being struck to the face at least four times, with the injuries indicative of ‘fist blows’. These caused him to fall backwards and hit the back of his head on the ground.
Clive Wyard
It had been known from the outset that Mr Wyard had left the Royal George public house on Colchester Road between 12.15am and 12.20am on 20 July 2018 and then embarked on the approximately 20-minute walk home to his property, which was near to the junction of Westerfield Road.
Mr Wyard was seen on CCTV walking along his usual route home, with the last footage of him captured on Valley Road at 12.37am, only about 200 yards from his home.
An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr Wyard’s death by the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team then followed, which after pursuing a number of lines of enquiry ultimately found forensic evidence linking Rhys Burroughs to the crime scene.
This included traces of Burrough’s DNA being found in the back pocket of Mr Wyard’s jeans, the front pocket of his jumper and on his darts case.
Burroughs was already serving an eight-year prison term for the robbery of a 79-year-old woman in 2017, during which she was pulled to the ground in a struggle for her handbag. He was charged and remanded in connection with this crime in November 2018 and convicted the following April after a jury found him guilty.
Burroughs provided no comment interviews when arrested in connection with Mr Wyard’s death and had pleaded not guilty to an initial charge of murder and attempted robbery, before admitting to committing manslaughter and attempted robbery a few weeks before he was due to stand trial.
Detective Inspector Lewis Craske, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Rhys Burroughs’ attack on Clive Wyard in the early hours of that summer morning four years ago, was both callous and cowardly.
“Burroughs has displayed no real remorse for his actions and has not offered any proper explanation as to what happened, but his guilty plea is an admission that he assaulted and attempted to rob Mr Wyard.
“Although Rhys Burroughs may not have intended to kill Mr Wyard there is no dispute that following the attack, he ultimately left him for dead on his driveway. This was not the first time Burroughs had assaulted a person aged in their 70s as his previous conviction demonstrates – put quite simply, his crimes are despicable.
“Clive Wyard was a greatly loved father and grandfather, who had enjoyed his usual Thursday darts night at his local pub. He should have been safe to walk home, as he always did, without fear of being attacked.
“Burroughs has refused to tell us exactly how and why he came to attack Mr Wyard, but we know unquestionably that he did assault him. His continued silence - despite his guilty plea - underlines my view of him as a cold-hearted killer, unable even now to give Clive’s loved ones the answers they deserve.
“I want to pay tribute to Mr Wyard’s children who have endured a terrible ordeal but displayed tremendous bravery throughout this investigation. They conducted numerous media interviews to help keep the inquiry firmly in the public consciousness and I am so very pleased that we were able to achieve justice for them and their dad.”
A 35-year-old man has been convicted of manslaughter and attempted robbery in connection with the death of a man aged in his 70s, who was found unconscious outside his Ipswich home almost four years ago.
Clive Wyard, aged 74, was found collapsed on his driveway in Valley Road at 7.15am on Friday 20 July 2018.
He had sustained injuries to his head and face, including black eyes, a split frenulum lip, a further cut to his lip, a deep cut to his cheek and other cuts to his body. He was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he tragically died 12 days later.
A post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Wyard died as a result of a severe head injury, having sustained a skull fracture and a bleed on the brain.
Rhys Burroughs, previously of Colchester Road in Ipswich, was charged with murder and attempted robbery in May last year. He denied the charges and was due to stand trial next month.
However today, Tuesday 31 May, he appeared before Ipswich Crown Court via video link and pleaded guilty to manslaughter and attempted robbery.
It had been known from the outset that Mr Wyard had left the Royal George public house on Colchester Road shortly after midnight on 20 July 2018 and then embarked on the approximately 20-minute walk home to his property, which was near to the junction of Westerfield Road.
An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr Wyard’s death by the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team then followed, which after pursuing a number of lines of enquiry ultimately found forensic evidence linking Rhys Burroughs to the crime scene.
His guilty pleas today are an admission that he assaulted and injured Mr Wyard during an attempted robbery and although he attests he did not intend to kill him, his actions that night were undeniably the cause of his death.
Burroughs - who is currently serving a prison term for another offence – will appear at Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing on Monday 5 September.
A 34-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murder in connection with the death of a man aged in his 70s, who was found unconscious outside his Ipswich home.
At 7.15am on Friday 20 July 2018, Clive Wyard, aged 74, was found collapsed on his driveway in Valley Road.
He had sustained injuries to his head and face, including black eyes, a split frenulum lip, a further cut to his lip, a deep cut to his cheek and other cuts to his body. He was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he sadly died 12 days later.
A post mortem examination concluded that Mr Wyard died as a result of a severe head injury, having sustained a skull fracture and a bleed on the brain.
An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr Wyard’s death by the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team then followed, resulting in charges being brought against an individual in connection with the incident.
Rhys Burroughs, previously of Colchester Road, Ipswich, appeared before Ipswich Magistrates’ Court today, Thursday 20 May, where he was formally charged with murder and attempted robbery.
Burroughs was committed to appear before Ipswich Crown Court this afternoon and will remain in custody pending a next court appearance on Friday 6 August.
Right; CCTV image of Mr Wyard from the Royal George which shows the clothes he was wearing that evening.
Detectives have launched a murder inquiry and made an arrest in connection with the death of a man found unconscious outside his Ipswich home last summer. This weekend marks the first anniversary of the incident and officers are making renewed appeals for anyone with information to come forward.
At 7.15am on Friday 20 July 2018, Clive Wyard, aged 74, was found collapsed on his driveway in Valley Road. He had left the Royal George public house on Colchester Road shortly after midnight, embarking on the approximately 20-minute walk home to his property, which was near to the junction of Westerfield Road.
He had sustained injuries to his head and face, including black eyes, a split cleft lip, a further cut to his lip, a deep cut to his cheek and other cuts to his body. He was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he sadly died 12 days later.
A post mortem examination concluded that Mr Wyard died as a result of a severe head injury, having sustained a skull fracture and a bleed on the brain.
Following an exhaustive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Mr Wyard’s death by the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, it is now being treated as a homicide.
A 32-year-old man from Ipswich has been arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating Mr Wyard’s death. He was brought into police custody for questioning and subsequently released under investigation in connection with this incident, but is currently serving a prison term for an unrelated offence.
Officers are renewing appeals for anyone with information about Mr Wyard’s death to come forward. In particular anyone who may have seen him walking along Colchester Road or Valley Road and any witnesses who believe they saw anyone else along this route, or acting suspiciously in the vicinity of his home near the roundabout junction with Westerfield Road.
Detective Inspector Lewis Craske, of the Major Investigation Team, said: “A year has now passed since Clive Wyard was discovered unconscious on his driveway and we remain as determined as ever to bring closure for his family and uncover the truth of what happened to him in the early hours of that morning.
“We have made considerable progress with the investigation and have gathered sufficient evidence for us to believe that Clive was the victim of a crime.
“As such, this is now a murder inquiry and we continue to appeal for anyone with information about Clive’s death to come forward.
“It is likely whoever attacked Clive may have shown a noticeable change in their behaviour, particularly on either the day he was discovered on his driveway, or when his death was confirmed to the public on Wednesday 8 August.
“If anyone does believe they may know something about Clive’s tragic death, however small it may seem, then I would appeal directly to their conscience to come forward and do the right thing for the sake of his children and grandchildren.”
Clive’s children have asked us to issue the following statement on their behalf: “Our father was one of a kind and was cruelly taken from us. Life will never be the same but we urge anyone who knows anything to please report it. Sometimes the smallest piece of information can be the biggest. Truth and justice is what we want.” Desmond, Jo and Jackie.
Clive Wyard’s final movements between 19 and 20 July 2018 are as follows:
He had been at the Royal George public house on Colchester Road on the evening of Thursday 19 July, which was something he regularly did on a Thursday night to meet friends and play darts.
He left that premises on foot between 12.15am and 12.20am on Friday 20 July and was captured on CCTV a few minutes later walking past a property slightly further along Colchester Road, in the direction of Sidegate Lane West.
There is then further CCTV footage of him walking along Valley Road at 12.37am and at this point he had only about another 200 yards to go until he reached his home address. The entire distance from the Royal George to his property is just under one mile.
Mr Wyard was white, 5ft 9in tall, of medium build, with grey hair and a grey goatie beard. He was wearing jeans and a light grey zip hooded top. A CCTV image of him obtained from the Royal George - which shows the clothes he was wearing that evening - is being reissued by police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team by using the police portal which can be accessed online here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/363718M64-PO2 or by calling 101 and quoting Op Rufforth.
Alternatively contact the charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form at: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Detectives are renewing appeals for information following the death of a man who was found unconscious outside his Ipswich home four weeks ago today.
At 7.15am on Friday 20 July, Clive Wyard, aged 74, was found collapsed on his driveway in Valley Road. His property is near to the junction of Westerfield Road.
He had sustained injuries to his head and face, including black eyes, a split cleft lip, a further cut to his lip, a deep cut to his cheek and other cuts to his body. He was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he sadly died 12 days later.
A post mortem examination was conducted on Monday 6 August and concluded that Mr Wyard died as a result of a severe head injury, having sustained a skull fracture and a bleed on the brain.
His death is being treated as unexplained and numerous enquiries have been taking place to ascertain the circumstances which resulted in him sustaining the injury which led to his death.
The investigation team now have a more accurate picture of Mr Wyard’s movements in the hours prior to being discovered, which differs slightly to that which has been published previously.
Mr Wyard had been at the Royal George public house on Colchester Road in Ipswich on the evening of Thursday 19 July. It has now been established that he left that premises on foot between 12.15am and 12.20am on Friday 20 July.
He was then captured on CCTV a few minutes later walking past a property slightly further along Colchester Road, in the direction of Sidegate Lane West.
There is then further CCTV footage of him walking along Valley Road at 12.37am and at this point he had only about another 200 yards to go until he reached his home address. The entire distance from the Royal George to his home is just under one mile.
Officers are also issuing a CCTV image of Mr Wyard from the Royal George which show the clothes he was wearing that evening.
Mr Wyard is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, of medium build, with grey hair and a grey goatie beard. He was wearing jeans and a light grey zip hooded top.
Detective Chief Inspector Marie James said: “Four weeks have now passed since Mr Wyard was discovered on his driveway and we are continuing with our efforts to establish what happened to him on that night.
“We want to be able to provide his family with the answers that they deserve and so I am appealing to anyone who believes they have any information at all that could assist our investigation to come forward. This includes people who believe they know of other individuals who may have been in that area on the night in question.
“We continue to keep an open mind as to what may have taken place and are appealing to anyone who believes they saw Mr Wyard walking along Colchester Road or Valley Road, between 12.15am and 7.15am on Friday 20 July to contact us.
Anyone with information regarding Mr Wyard’s movements that night and/or anyone in possession of Dash Cam or CCTV footage covering that period, are asked to contact the Major Investigation Team on 101 quoting Op Rufforth, or use the police portal which can be accessed online: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/1052
Alternatively contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Police are continuing to appeal for information following the death of a man who was found unconscious in Ipswich last month.
At 7.15am on Friday 20 July, Clive Wyard, aged 74, was found collapsed on the driveway of his home in Valley Road.
He had sustained injuries to his face and head and was taken to Ipswich Hospital, where he has now sadly died.
A post mortem examination was conducted on Monday 6 August and concluded that Mr Wyard died as a result of a head injury.
Detectives are treating his death as unexplained. Enquiries are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances which resulted in him sustaining the injury which led to his death.
Mr Wyard had been at the Royal George public house on Colchester Road in Ipswich on the evening of Thursday 19 July, leaving sometime after 11.30pm.
He was last seen outside the Co-op at the junction with Sidegate Lane West at around midnight and he sustained his injuries at some point prior to 7.15am the next morning.
Mr Wyard is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, of medium build, with grey hair and a grey goatie beard. He was wearing jeans and a light grey zip hooded top.
Detective Chief Inspector Marie James said: "We have undertaken numerous enquiries in order to understand the circumstances that led to Mr Wyard’s death.
"We remain open minded as to what may have taken place and continue to urge anyone who believes they saw Mr Wyard walking along Colchester Road or Valley Road, between 11.30pm on 19 July and 7.15am on 20 July to contact us.
"Although almost three weeks have passed since Mr Wyard was found, I would urge anyone with information that may assist our investigation to contact us irrespective of the passage of time. The smallest detail could prove to be vital in helping us to understand what happened that night and to provide answers to the family.”
Anyone with information regarding Mr Wyard’s movements that night and/or anyone in possession of Dash Cam or CCTV footage covering that period, are asked to contact the Major Investigation Team on 101 quoting Op Rufforth, or use the police portal which can be accessed online: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/1052
Alternatively contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Police continue to conduct enquiries to establish the exact circumstances surrounding an incident involving a 74 year old man in Ipswich who was injured.
Officers are remaining open minded about what happened to the man, Clive Wyard of Valley Road in Ipswich. It is thought it happened at some point between 11.30pm on Thursday 19 July and 1.20am on Friday 20 July 2018.
He had left the Royal George public house at about 11.30pm and 12.20am heading along Colchester Road towards Sidegate Lane and from there headed to Valley Road.
He was last seen outside Co-Op on Sidegate Lane at around midnight of 19 July. He was found the following morning at 7.15am by passers-by on the floor at Valley Road close to his home with injuries to his face and head and taken to Ipswich hospital for treatment where he remains. Police are still keen to understand how he was injured.
He is described as having a medium build, is white, about 5 foot 9 inches tall with grey hair and a grey goatie beard. He was wearing jeans and a light grey zip hooded top.
Anyone who witnessed or has knowledge of the incident it should contact Ipswich CID on 101 quoting reference 37/41910/18.
Police are appealing for witnesses to a suspected assault that took place in Ipswich.
It is thought it happened at some point between 11.30pm on Thursday 19 July and 1.20am on Friday 20 July 2018.
The victim, a 74 year old male, had left the Royal George public house at about 11.30pm and 12.20am heading along Colchester Road towards Sidegate Lane and from there headed to Valley Road
He was last seen outside Co-Op on Sidegate Lane at around midnight of 19 July. He was found the following morning at 7.15am by passers-by on the floor at Valley Road close to his home with injuries to his face and head and taken to Ipswich hospital for treatment where he remains. The victim is described as having a medium build, is white, about 5 foot 9 inches tall with grey hair and a grey goatie beard. He was wearing jeans, a purple top, brown tan boots and a light grey zip hooded top.
Enquiries are ongoing to investigate the circumstances prior to his discovery. Officers are looking for any witnesses that may have seen the male walking towards Valley Road or anyone with a dashcam who drove down Colchester Road towards Valley Road at the relevant time.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has knowledge of it should contact Ipswich CID on 101 quoting crime reference 37/41910/18. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Court
Court
Court
Court