A man who murdered his own father and concealed the body in a cardboard box behind their shared flat has been jailed for 18 years and seven months.
Thomas Sykes, 41, was sentenced at Stafford Crown Court after being found guilty of murdering his 67-year-old father, Tony Sykes, in a brutal and calculated attack that shocked the local community in Tamworth.
The disturbing incident unfolded on 19 August 2022, when police responded to concerns from neighbours who hadn’t seen Tony for several days. Upon arriving at the flat shared by father and son, officers became suspicious of Thomas’s behaviour.
Gruesome Discovery
A search of the property’s garden led to the grim discovery of Tony’s body, hidden inside a cardboard box behind a shed. A freshly dug grave-sized hole was also found nearby, along with gardening tools—evidence suggesting Thomas intended to bury the body.
Bloodstains were later found on the carpet and cabinet in the flat’s bedroom. Two blood-soaked sections of carpet had been cut out and dumped in a black bin bag, hidden in a wheelie bin.
A post-mortem confirmed Tony had suffered severe head and facial injuries and had died several days before his body was found.
Denials and Deceit
Despite overwhelming forensic evidence, Thomas denied involvement, claiming he had discovered his father already dead and panicked—hiding the body in a box while he planned a burial. However, a jury rejected his account after a two-week trial, returning a guilty verdict for murder last week.
The court also heard that Thomas used his father’s bank card after the killing.
Police Praise Community for Vigilance
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Cheryl Hannan said:
“This is a tragic case of the death of a man at the hands of his own son. I am pleased with the sentence and that justice has been served.”
She also praised community members who raised the alarm and witnesses who gave evidence:
“Their diligence ensured Tony was found and could be laid to rest appropriately.”
Community in Shock
Drone footage released by police showed the chilling scene in the garden, including the dug grave. Neighbours described Tony as a “quiet but friendly” man who always exchanged greetings.
The sentencing brings some closure to a horrific case that has left many in Burton-on-Trent and Tamworth reeling.
Thomas Sykes has been remanded to begin his sentence immediately, with no possibility of parole for more than 12 years.
