Man guilty of hammer attack on 96-year-old D-Day veteran Jim Booth

A “near monster” who attacked a D-Day veteran with a claw hammer and left him for dead has been found guilty of attempted murder.

Joseph Isaacs, 40, of no fixed address, shouted “money, money, money” as he advanced on 96-year-old Lieutenant Commander Jim Booth, hitting him repeatedly over the head in November last year.

Isaacs, who is illiterate, was given a 20-year extended sentence. It comprises a 16-year term of which he will have to serve two thirds, and a four-year extension.

He began his “prolonged and barbaric” attack after his offer of cheap building work was turned down.

Lt Cdr Booth tried to escape by retreating into his house in Taunton, Somerset, but Isaacs pursued him and continued his “cowardly” assault.

“He hit me six times on the head as well as more on the arms with the claw hammer and the claw side of it too,” Lt Cdr Booth said.

Somerset and Avon Constabulary said it was a “miracle” the victim survived after suffering multiple skull fractures and lacerations to his head, hands and arms, adding that he may “never fully recover”.

Isaacs left Lt Cdr Booth “for dead on his living room floor so that he could search his home for money and valuables”, said Mark Major, from the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Worse things happen at sea,” Lt Cdr Booth said, adding: “I blame myself because I was special services, you know.

“I think I should really have known how to deal with this but I didn’t. I was too old, obviously.”

Reflecting on his attacker, Lt Cdr Booth said: “Presumably something terrible happened in his life and who knows what it was, and turned him into a near monster.

“So to that extent I understand. But obviously I can’t understand what he did, frankly.

“And why – there seems to be no reason why. That’s how I am at the moment.”

Judge David Ticehurst said Lt Cdr Booth was an “extraordinarily remarkable gentleman” who had suffered a “brutal and utterly senseless attack”.

At an earlier hearing, Isaacs admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated burglary and six allegations of fraud.

But he denied intending to kill Lt Cdr Booth, claiming he had gone to his house to ask for money for food.

Police said that when they stopped a car Isaacs was driving on 24 November, two days after the attack, “traces of Mr Booth’s blood” were on his jeans, and a “cheque belonging to Lt Cdr Booth was found in the footwell”.

Isaacs “admitted he attacked Lt Cdr Booth and used his bank cards following the burglary but denied attempted murder”, Mr Major said.

Detective Chief Inspector James Riccio, who led the investigation, said: “Joseph Isaacs called at Jim Booth’s home posing as a workman.

“When Mr Booth declined the work being offered, Isaacs forced his way in, demanded money and subjected Mr Booth to a prolonged and barbaric ordeal.

“He used a claw hammer to strike Mr Booth repeatedly to the head and body, even hitting him multiple times while he lay on the floor.

“It was a cowardly act and it’s a miracle Mr Booth survived these horrific injuries.”

Lt Cdr Booth, who played a key part in the success of the D-Day landings, cleared mines from the Mediterranean Sea once the Second World War was over.

DCI Riccio added: “This has been an emotive case which has affected everyone who’s worked on it.

“Mr Booth has showed immense strength of character and spirit to survive the injuries he suffered and while he may never fully recover, he has a close network of family and friends to support him.”

(c) Sky News 2018: Man guilty of hammer attack on 96-year-old D-Day veteran Jim Booth