Man guilty of murdering vulnerable flat-mate after brutal New Year's Day attack

A man has been found guilty of murdering his vulnerable flat-mate after carrying out a sustained and brutal attack.

Scott Silkstone, 51, of no fixed address, was found guilty of attacking Dwayne Tuohey on New Year’s Day 2026 before dragging him from his Leeds flat and repeatedly stamping on him in public.

Dwayne, 55, was found unconscious by paramedics near bins outside the flats where he lived at Gargrave Court, Burmantofts.

He was taken to hospital but later died of his injuries.

During a trial that lasted more than two weeks, Leeds Crown Court heard how Dwayne had spent New Year’s Eve 2025 in the company of Silkstone at the flat in Gargrave Court.

CCTV footage showed the pair travelling together to a nearby post office, where Dwayne withdrew cash.

He was last seen uninjured shortly after midnight as he returned to his flat.

The court heard that Silkstone took away crutches from Dwayne, an amputee who lost a leg several years earlier.

Jurors heard that during the early hours of New Year's Day Silkstone was seen on CCTV carrying one of the crutches before leaving the building and later returning in an agitated state.

This is when he launched a violent assault on Dwayne inside his flat.

Forensic evidence revealed a scene of extreme violence within the living room.

Blood was found throughout the room and on a number of objects, including a prosthetic leg, a crutch, a heater, a shower seat and a metal box.

Experts concluded that several of those items had been used as weapons.

At around 8am, CCTV footage showed Silkstone dragging Dwayne, who was by then seriously injured, from his flat and into a lift.

Over the next 10 minutes, he repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on Dwayne as he dragged him through communal areas and outside the building.

The jury was told that Dwayne offered virtually no resistance and appeared incapable of defending himself.

Two women who witnessed part of the incident called 999 after seeing a man lying motionless on the ground.

Despite being seen, Silkstone continued the attack, delivering further blows before stripping Dwayne of his trousers and leaving him almost naked on the pavement.

Following the assault, Silkstone went to a nearby shop carrying the trousers. He had blood on his hands, face and hair.

Post-mortem results confirmed devastating injuries caused by repeated blows to the head, chest and abdomen.

Detective Inspector Jodie Hayes, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “My thoughts are with Dwayne Tuohey’s loved ones today.

“Silkstone carried out a prolonged, degrading and vicious assault on a defenceless and vulnerable man who he was abusive to and attempted to control.

“He continued to deny responsibility for Dwayne’s murder despite the overwhelming evidence against him. This meant Dwayne’s family had to endure the continuing anguish of a full trial.”

“I hope today’s verdict brings them some closure.”

Sentencing will take place on September 7, police said.