A couple has been jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of a vulnerable 28-year-old man in their care. Kenneth Newton, 58, and Melanie James, 64, inflicted "deliberate cruelty" on Rubin Blount, who weighed just 40kg at the time of his death.
Stafford Crown Court heard that Mr Blount was made to stand for long periods, left in his own urine, and forced to eat out of bins at an address in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The defendants, both from Birmingham, filmed themselves mocking and abusing Mr Blount.
Mrs Justice Jefford sentenced Newton and James to a minimum of 21 years each, stating they had abused a position of trust and shown an "abject failure to help him when he was in pain and suffering." Mr Blount died on 30 November 2022, three days after suffering a cardiac arrest upon arrival at hospital, severely dehydrated and malnourished.
Doctors found Mr Blount had extensive pneumonia, severe infection, fractures to his ribs and spine, and burns, lesions, and grazes. He had 50 rib fractures, with 47 inflicted in the weeks leading up to his death. Prosecutor Jennifer Josephs KC said Mr Blount was "considerably mentally impaired" and particularly vulnerable, and the couple denied him access to medical care until he was "beyond help."