A couple has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a vulnerable man in their care, following a trial at Stafford Crown Court. Kenneth Newton, 58, and his partner Melanie James, 64, were convicted in July for the death of 28-year-old Rubin Blount, who died in 2022 after suffering prolonged abuse in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Mr. Blount, who weighed just six stone at the time of his death, endured severe mistreatment at the hands of Newton and James. Evidence presented during the trial revealed that he was forced to stand for extended periods and made to eat food discarded in bins. The defendants also recorded themselves subjecting him to abuse.

Medical examinations following Blount’s hospitalization highlighted the extent of the injuries and neglect he experienced. He was severely dehydrated and malnourished, sustaining more than 50 broken ribs. Doctors also identified widespread pneumonia, infections, burns, lesions, and grazes. Following his admission to hospital after becoming unwell, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away three days later.

During the sentencing hearing, a member of the public expressed anger by shouting at the defendants, who were ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years before being eligible for parole.

Jeanette Blount, the victim’s mother, commented on the sentencing, saying that no punishment could undo the loss of her son or alleviate the trauma her family now faces. The case has drawn attention to the serious consequences of abuse against vulnerable individuals under care.