Man Appears In Court Over Pensioner Murder In Droitwich

11 July 2019, 13:12

A 32-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a pensioner who was stabbed in his own home.

Adam Leslie Mason is accused of killing 80-year-old Desmond Wooding on June 23.

Mr Wooding was found dead the next day following what police described as a "brutal attack".

A neighbour raised the alarm after spotting the lights to Mr Wooding's bungalow in Droitwich, Worcestershire, had been left on from the previous evening.

Appearing at Kidderminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, Mason spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and nationality in a short hearing.

West Mercia Police said a second man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender had been released on bail.

The widower was last seen by a neighbour near his bungalow in Vines Lane on the evening of June 23.

The force said he had been out in the town, which lies only a short walk away over the River Salwarpe and nearby stretch of the Droitwich Canal earlier in the day.

Police confirmed Mr Wooding, described as a family man, was inside the home when he was attacked and had suffered "more than one" stab wound.

Mason, of Plough Lane in Tibberton, Droitwich, was remanded into custody to appear at Worcester Crown Court on August 12.