Walsall man jailed for killing friend in Staffordshire flat

A Walsall man has been jailed for a minimum term of 17 years for murdering his friend at a flat in Cheslyn Hay.

Bradley Nightingale, 29, of Millfield Avenue, Little Bloxwich, was convicted following a trial in May of killing father-of-one Jake Mills who was found with a stab wound to the neck in September last year.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday afternoon (June 19) at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Police launched an investigation after 34-year-old Mr Mills was reported missing on September 18; officers forced entry to his flat in High Street, Cheslyn Hay, where they discovered his body amid signs of drug taking and boozing. Detectives also discovered that some of the victim's personal belongings including his keys and mobile phone were missing.

Sentencing him Judge Sally Hancox said the men previously lived near each other in Bloxwich and had recently made arrangements to meet up at a pub. The court heard that security cameras showed Mr Mills buying the drinks and later buying even more drinks and cigarettes during the evening they were seen together. She said he trusted the defendant to get him home.

“Jake Mills was seriously injured. You most likely took his life at about 5am on September 16 for reasons unknown. For reasons which you have never revealed, the relationship in the flat soured. A neighbour was woken up by banging and Jake’s voice could be heard. There was shouting and swearing.

“A sharp object most likely a pair of scissors was used to strike Jake to the back of his head. There was a stab wound to the back of his neck to a depth of two inches which damaged an artery. You must have known that you had harmed him.”

Judge Hancox said the crime was aggravated by the fact that Mr Mills was killed in his own home and Nightingtingale had been using cocaine and alcohol at the time. She added that the defendant had eight previous convictions.

Speaking following the sentencing Detective Inspector Gina Pope, of the Staffordshire Police murder investigation unit, said: “My thoughts remain with Jake’s family and friends who we know have suffered absolute heartbreak following the tragic events that took place last year.

“Officers and staff have worked incredibly hard to capture all of the evidence and progress this investigation for which I thank them again, which ensured the jury were able to come to their verdict in the trial last month. I’m pleased we’ve been able to secure this result for Jake’s family.”

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The force stated that carrying out inquiries at the scene officers found that in the early hours two days prior to the body being found, Mr Mills he had been inside his flat with a man who turned out to be Nightingale.

CCTV captured Nightingale leaving Mr Mills’ home. He got into his Audi A5 and drove for a short distance before crashing and fleeing the area.

The killer was arrested at his home on September 20 and presented a pre-prepared statement when he was interviewed, saying that he was with Mr Mills the night before he had given him permission to drive the car the following day, and that he had not murdered him or caused him any injury.

Officers found that Nightingale used the victim’s bank card to pay for bus travel, attempted to buy alcohol and ignored calls from Mr Mill’s mother whilst fleeing the area and later selling his phone at a second-hand retailer.

For murder Nightingale will serve a minimum of 16 years and 106 days from today. The date of his release will be decided by the parole board.