A shocking case in Telford has ended with a man jailed for life after hiding the body of a murdered man in his home for up to 30 days.
Jason Trundle Sentenced Over Leon Pratt Murder
Jason Trundle was sentenced on Friday, 10 April 2026, after being found guilty of murdering 64-year-old Leon Pratt. In addition to the murder charge, Trundle was convicted of preventing a lawful burial and fraud by false representation. He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 19 years. 
Neighbours Raise Alarm Over Missing Man
Concerned neighbours called emergency services on 26 October 2024 after Mr Pratt hadn’t been seen for weeks. Paramedics found his body in his bed in Downemead, Hollinswood, wrapped in duvets and blankets. Trundle, who had been living as Mr Pratt’s “unofficial carer,” told paramedics the victim had been dead for “about 12 days.” Police were called, and Trundle was arrested on suspicion of murder when he failed to explain the circumstances around Mr Pratt’s death.
Terrifying Details Reveal Brutal Crime
- The body was badly decomposed, making it hard to determine the cause of death initially.
- A post-mortem showed Mr Pratt suffered serious injuries to his back, ribs, and neck, consistent with strangulation and “considerable force.”
- Investigators found Trundle used Mr Pratt’s bank card multiple times after the murder.
- Trundle met Mr Pratt online and moved into his home after claiming he was homeless. They lived together for around 18 months before the killing.
- Evidence shows Mr Pratt’s last phone use and car activity on 27 September 2024—the likely date of the murder.
Trundle denied murder and pleaded guilty to manslaughter during the trial, but prosecutors rejected the plea. A jury found him guilty of murder on 9 April. Alongside 19 years for murder, he received 30 months for preventing burial and 9 months for fraud, to run concurrently. This disturbing case has rocked the Telford community, with justice now served for Leon Pratt.
