Robber who kicked and punched pensioner for cottage pie jailed for his murder

A robber who kicked and punched a pensioner before taking off with a box of cornflakes and a cottage pie has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years.

John Mackey, 87, was targeted by Peter Augustine after he visited a Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on 6 May.

Augustine, 59, was convicted by jurors of murder and robbery following a trial at the Old Bailey earlier this month.

He did not attend his sentencing on Friday, claiming he was suffering from back pain.

Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC said Augustine attacked "gentle, innocent" Mr Mackey "for a box of cornflakes, a pint of milk and a saveloy sausage".

"I have no doubt that if this defendant was genuinely starving and had asked Mr Mackey for help, this kind, generous gentleman would have," she said.

"I have no doubt that the defendant targeted him specifically because he was frail - it was a cowardly act, the defendant has shown no remorse."

Passers-by saw Augustine attacking Mr Mackey and searching his jacket as he lay on the ground.

A member of the public alerted police after she heard a shout of "give me the bag" and saw Mr Mackey lying motionless on the pavement.

Mr Mackey, who was bleeding from his head, regained consciousness but was unable to tell officers what had happened.

He was treated in hospital for bleeding on the brain and broken ribs, but died from his injuries two days later.

Augustine was arrested two days after the attack, after CCTV viewed by the Metropolitan Police showed him watching Mr Mackey buying food at a kebab shop.

After attacking Mr Mackey, Augustine took his bag which contained a newspaper, cornflakes, cottage pie and his dinner of sausage and chips.

While in custody after his arrest, Augustine showed no remorse - making a series of threats, acting violently and throwing hot coffee at an officer, police said.

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A search of the defendant's room uncovered what was left of the pensioner's groceries and wrapping from the cottage pie, and sausage and chips.

Prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff KC previously told jurors Mr Mackey was 5ft 5in and weighed less than nine stone.

"He would have been largely unable to put up any resistance to the attack due to his age and infirmity," she said.

The prosecutor said at the time Augustine was living in "reduced circumstances" and was effectively homeless.

Mr Mackey's niece, Patricia Schan, described her "perfect uncle" as "funny, charming, mysterious, and very definitely mischievous", and went on to criticise Augustine's behaviour during the trial.

She said it "showed complete disdain, disrespect and disregard for the family throughout the trial and caused even further distress from what was already an extremely traumatic experience".

"His refusal to even attend during the trial caused anguish and uncertainty because we did not know what we would be facing on a daily basis," she said.

"He was constantly turning around and looking at us and shouting at us - and frankly terrifying us - from the witness box, which was just a few metres away."

Acting Detective Chief Inspector John Marriott, who led the investigation, said: "It is a shameful tragedy that John was killed by Augustine, for a mere few bits of shopping. He deserved better."

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