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Murderer's father's jail term upped over brutal West Bromwich robbery

A man whose friend was murdered by his son in a brutal robbery he helped to plan has had his prison term extended.

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Colin Cooke senior has had his jail sentence extended

Colin Cooke and his son, also called Colin, were jailed in May for their involvement in a robbery that left a pensioner dead after being stabbed up to 27 times.

Ronald Smith

Another son, prolific burglar Paul Cooke, was jailed for almost 30 years last September for murdering 64-year-old Ronald Smith at his home in West Bromwich in May 2015, the day after he was released from prison.

He had stolen £600 and gold and left his victim bleeding on the floor before locking the door of the Cottage Walk maisonette. Mr Smith was found dead at the bottom of his stairs a month later after neighbours contacted police.

Cooke senior, aged 62, and son Colin, 37, were both found guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court of helping an offender. The older man was also convicted of conspiracy to rob and sentenced to seven years.

But his prison term has been extended following a referral by the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, QC, who argued that the original sentence given to Cooke senior was unduly lenient.

The Court of Appeal has increased the sentence to 11 years and six months. Cooke junior was cleared of the same charge but jailed for 30 months for helping to cover his brother’s tracks.

Convinced 35-year-old Paul Cooke did not act alone, detectives vowed to continue their hunt for the other person believed to be involved in the savage attack. The victim was described as a private man who would not answer the door to strangers.

A witness recalled overhearing Paul Cooke and his father plotting to rob Mr Smith the day before the killing, while another told how Cooke senior had ‘cat-like scratches’ on his cheek, nose and forehead in the days after the murder.

The jury had heard how his father was a personal friend of the victim and a regular visitor to Mr Smith’s maisonette and would have known he kept cash at the property.

Both father and son harboured Paul Cooke afterwards by arranging a hotel room for him and finding him accommodation at addresses in Tipton in the aftermath of the murder.

Cooke senior, of Wilford Road, West Bromwich, proceeded to dispose of his son’s phone in an effort to hide him from the police.

The Attorney General said: “This was a well planned robbery, where an innocent person has lost their life. The offender has also shown no remorse in the death of his friend. I am pleased the Court of Appeal has increased the sentence.”

Detective Sergeant Angela Baggott from the force’s homicide unit, said: “Officers felt the sentence originally given to Cooke was unduly lenient and we are pleased that the Judge at today’s hearing has recognised this.”

DS Baggott has also renewed her appeal for help in tracing another person that police believe was involved in the fatal attack and stressed the murder case remains open.

She said: “This investigation is still live: we know another offender was present at the time and I urge anyone with information that could help us identify this person to come forward.

“Innocent people can be eliminated from our enquiries through forensic evidence found at the scene − and indeed my officers have already spoken to and ruled out almost 250 people. Someone out there knows who else was involved and I would ask them to look into their conscience and provide a name.

“Paul Cooke has been told he will spend almost 30 years behind bars… but he should not be serving this murder sentence alone.

“The search for the second person continues and I would urge anyone who suspects someone they know was involved in this killing to call West Midlands Police. Mr Smith’s family will not have complete closure until that person is found."

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