Man jailed after breaking brother's skull over grandmother's will

Greedy Mark Baker from Lye believed his brother Christopher had coerced their grandmother into changing her will before she died so it favoured him.

So on May 27 last year Baker went to his brother's home and attacked him with a hammer, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Christopher, aged 50, suffered multiple fractures to his head and body and a collapsed lung which left him in hospital for a week following the attack at his home in Northfield Road, Netherton.

However, he was unwillingly to press charges against his brother and Baker was released without charge.

But 47-year-old Baker continued his vendetta against his brother and was arrested again on October 3 after assaulting him again this time in the street, damaging his car and threatening to kill him.

On that occasion, the court was told Baker struck his brother in the face with a brick, damaging his nose and eye before vandalising his parked car.

Baker, of High Street, Lye, was found guilty after a three day trial of wounding with intent at Wolverhampton Crown Court in April.

During the trial the jury heard Baker was aggrieved that his brother was inheriting the bulk of the will.

During sentencing on Friday, judge John Wait described it as a 'sad case' and said Baker had 'festering resentment' over the amount that his brother had been left in the will.

He added Baker had carried out a 'sustained attack' on the 'vulnerable parts' of his brother's body.

Simon Hanns, defending Baker, said there had been a 'clear issue' over the distribution of their grandmother's estate.

He also argued that Christopher made a full recovery from both attacks.

After the sentencing, investigating officer Det Con Dan Bailey from West Midlands Police, said: "It became clear that Baker was consumed with anger at the injustice he felt over the will and his brother came to believe that the threat to his life was very real.

"Baker will now pay a heavy price for his greed."