London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025

Pensioner died after being tied to chair by burglar, court told

Pensioner died after being tied to chair by burglar, court told

Adris Mohammed, 44, went back to the home of David Varlow, 78, to hunt for further items to steal, murder trial hears
A pensioner died after being tied to a chair by a burglar who returned to the crime scene more than a week later to free his victim’s body, a murder trial has heard.

Prosecutors allege Adris Mohammed went back to the home of David Varlow, knowing the pensioner would be dead, to hunt for further items to steal.

A trial at Birmingham crown court was told Varlow, aged 78, was found dead after police forced entry to his home in Manor Lane, Halesowen, West Midlands, last November.

Mohammed, from Icknield Port Road, Birmingham, denies murder, manslaughter, attempted burglary and two counts each of fraud and burglary.

Opening the crown’s case on Monday, the prosecutor, Peter Grieves-Smith, alleged that 44-year-old Mohammed went to Varlow’s home on 24 October, 3 November and overnight on 11-12 November.

The prosecutor told the court Mohammed had tried to break into the property on his first visit and went back to the house on 3 November in the early hours of the morning.

Grieves-Smith said: “On this occasion he got inside the house. He stole a bank card which he and others used to commit fraud.”

Alleging that Mohammed aimed to withdraw as much money as possible using the card, Grieves-Smith told jurors: “The plan would only work if David Varlow could not alert the police or the bank. He tied David Varlow to a chair in his living room in such a way he would never be able to free himself.

“It would have been obvious David Varlow was old and frail, but he didn’t care. In tying him up, Adris Mohammed either intended to kill him or to cause him really serious harm.”

Jurors were told that Varlow’s bank account contained almost £19,000.

The court heard that Varlow dialled 999 after the initial attempted burglary, in which a rear window was smashed.

During the burglary in which he was tied up, the court heard, Varlow was “compelled” to reveal his card’s pin.

Grieves-Smith said of Mohammed: “The first thing he did with the bank card was to check the balance.
Advertisement

“That bank account had more than £19,000 in it. Having checked to see how much money there was, he withdrew £250 in cash.

“To have done that he must have known the pin and David Varlow, the prosecution say, must have been forced to divulge it. He didn’t do so of his own free will. He must have been terrified.”

During his opening remarks, Grieves-Smith alleged that Mohammed was accompanied by co-defendant O’Shay Swan, who is accused of burglary and fraud, when he returned to Manor Lane late on 11 November or early on 12 November.

The prosecutor continued: “The prosecution suggest Adris Mohammed would have felt confident that when he returned, David Varlow would be in no position to recognise him because he would be dead.

“If he had thought there was any chance that David Varlow was alive, he would never have gone back.”

Alleging that Mohammed had untied the victim during the final visit, allowing the body to fall to the floor, Grieves-Smith added that the victim was found a few days later when the police forced entry.

Swan, 42, of Winson Green Road, Birmingham, denies burgling Varlow’s property on a day between 10 and 13 November and committing fraud in relation to the use of a bank card on 12 November.

The trial, expected to last for three weeks, continues.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
×