Teenager Daniel Rounce jailed for 'devastating' murder of great-grandfather Gerald Wickes

A teenager that walked into a house and murdered a 79-year-old man in a random attack has been sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. Daniel Rounce, 18, stabbed Gerald Wickes while the grandfather was having a chat and a drink with his ex-wife at her home in Eyres Monsell, Leicester.

Rounce, who was 17 at the time of the incident, initially fled the scene in Queens Park Way. Today (Tuesday April 16), at Leicester Crown Court he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years.

Mr Wickes had been at his former partner’s house on the afternoon of February 22 last year, when Rounce, who was unknown to them, had entered the house. Mr Wickes and his former partner questioned Rounce and asked him what he wanted, Leicestershire Police said.

READ MORE: Teenager found guilty of murder after stabbing grandad in Leicester home

The force said Rounce then pulled a knife from his jacket pocket and lunged at Mr Wickes, stabbing him in the chest, before then leaving the property. Police said a murder investigation was launched with initial enquiries showing Rounce had been in a wooded area near the house prior to going into the address.

CCTV enquiries also revealed Rounce running away from the area after the stabbing. A search of the wooded area nearby led to a knife being recovered as well as two rucksacks which were later identified as belonging to the teenager.

A search for Rounce continued into the evening leading to a police officer spotting him in the Aylestone Road area of Leicester at around 11.15pm. He was subsequently arrested and following further enquiries was charged two days later with the murder of Mr Wickes.

The jury at Leicester Crown Court heard from the prosecution that Rounce, of The Green, Markfield, did not dispute that he was the person who stabbed Mr Wickes. However, he had pleaded not guilty to murder.

On Monday (April 15), the jury was told that there would be no defence case at all as Rounce's barrister, Anthony Bell, said that Rounce would not be going in the witness stand and would not give any evidence.

In a statement given previously, Garry Wickes, Gerald's son, called his dad "one of life’s helpers." He said: "I am so very proud to say that Ged Wickes was my dad.

"From the day I was born, he has always been there, from teaching me to swim at a very early age to teaching me to fish which has stayed with me all my life." Following the verdict, the senior investigating officer in the case, detective inspector David Greenhalgh, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “This was a devastating incident which resulted in a 79-year-old man losing his life in a horrendous way because of the actions of a teenager who was unknown to him.

“We will never fully know why this happened and my thoughts very much remain with Mr Wickes’ family. They have lost a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather and this verdict does not make things any easier or bring their loved one back.

“I thank them for their support and the co-operation they have shown during this extremely difficult time. I would also like to thank all the officers who responded to the incident, and who have assisted with the investigation since, for their dedication and professionalism which has ultimately led to this verdict being returned in court.”