A man has been sentenced to life for killing a frail Alzheimer’s patient, showing no remorse and blaming the pandemic for his actions
Gardiner attacked him and left him with severe injuries. Mr. Coxon was rushed to the hospital but sadly passed away in March. In court, Gardiner had the audacity to blame Covid for the death.
He has a long history of violence. After the attack, he was arrested and charged with murder. Gardiner pleaded guilty last December. The court learned that Mr. Coxon was a registered sex offender, which Gardiner knew.
Despite this, there was no evidence of any inappropriate contact between them. Gardiner had previously tried to exploit Mr. Coxon for money. He even took him to a bank, asking for a reward for finding a lost wallet.
Mr. Coxon lived with Alzheimer’s and diabetes, needing care workers to visit him daily. On the day of the attack, a carer found him on the kitchen floor. He had suffered a traumatic brain injury, leading to kidney failure.
Gardiner initially denied the attack but later confessed to prison guards. He even wrote to police, wanting to “come clean.” In court, he claimed a family member had taken their life due to Mr. Coxon’s actions, but this was false.
The judge noted that Gardiner’s attack was premeditated, but he didn’t intend to kill. It’s unclear why he chose to attack Mr. Coxon, especially since they lived near each other.
Gardiner has a long list of previous convictions, including robbery and assault. The judge sentenced him to life in prison, with a minimum of 20 years before he can be considered for release.
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey stated that Gardiner exploited Mr. Coxon and then attacked him in his own home. He will now face a long time behind bars for his actions.
