Amos Wilsher, 29, of Vicar Lane, Tibshelf, Derbyshire, was found guilty of the murders of 87-year-old Arthur ‘Bob’ Gumbley in 2017 and Josephine Kaye in 2020 at Coventry Crown Court on 21 February 2022. Today (Friday 25 March), he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 38 years.
Jason Wilsher, 23, of the same address as his brother, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 25 years after he was found guilty of the murder of Bob following a re-trial.
(above: (left) Amos Wilsher and (right) Jason Wilsher)
Both brothers were also found guilty of the grievous bodily harm – wounding with intent of Dennis Taylor in Derbyshire in November 2017 and consipracy to rob.
On the evening of 21 November 2017, the brothers broke into Bob’s house on Endwood Drive in Little Aston. When he went to investigate they subjected him to a vicious assault inside his own home. They assaulted him numerous times, dragged him through his house and ripped his watch from his wrist, tearing the fragile skin away from the back of his hand. They ransacked his house and took jewellery, antiques and money.
He was taken to hospital where he was treated for multiple injuries and from where he was able to tell the police what he could remember of what had happened. Tragically, he died on 12 December 2017 as a result of the attack.
(above: Arthur ‘Bob’ Gumbley)
Four days later, on the evening of 25 November 2017, the brothers drove to an isolated farmhouse in Cresswell, just north of Mansfield in Derbyshire. Wearing masks over their faces and gloves on their hands, they forced their way into the home of 82-year-old Dennis.
They rang the doorbell and claimed to be police officers and assaulted him repeatedly. They made off with jewellery and £800 cash. Fortunately, Dennis survived despite significant injuries.
Following a four-month long study of CCTV detectives placed a blue Mazda RX8 in the area of the Bob and Dennis’s homes.
It was found burnt out and abandoned near to Tibshelf on 25 November 2017 within roughly an hour of the robbery and assault of Dennis. Detectives found out it had been sold privately in London and telephone numbers involved in the sale led to Wilshers’ family members.
An alias of ‘John Smiff’ had been given and an address in Bagworth, Leicestershire was written on the V62 document. This was another Wilsher family address.
Extensive forensic work which took four weeks was carried out at Bob’s bungalow. Jason Wilsher’s DNA was lifted from a drawer handle in Bob’s bedroom
Evidence from Amos Wilsher’s electronic tag was used to place him away from his home address during these offences and returning soon after they took place.
On the evening of 27 February 2020, 88-year-old Josephine was brutally attacked and robbed in her home in Park Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. Amos Wilsher, wearing a mask and gloves, entered her home by ringing the doorbell, and when she answered he claimed to be a policeman and forced her inside.
He ripped her ‘lifeline’ security pendant from her wrist, repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her with a screwdriver. He made off with a large amount of cash, as well as a safe.
Josephine was taken to hospital. She had suffered a broken leg, a fractured thigh bone, as well as significant bruising. Tragically, she died on 17 March 2020 as a result of the attack.
(above: Josephine Kaye)
Amos Wilsher was arrested on 13 March 2020. He was linked to the crime scene by the presence of his DNA on the surface of security light that had been tampered with and a soap tin that the attacker had left on Josephine’s bed.
He was also scientifically linked to a grey Honda which was scientifically linked to the robbery of Josephine, as well as having been captured on CCTV driving past her house at the time she said a man came and removed a padlock from her gate.
On the back seat of the Honda there were fragments from Josephine’s cupboard, and a black woollen hat she described the man as wearing, that had Amos Wilsher’s DNA on the inside headband.
Detective Chief Inspector Dan Ison, of Staffordshire Police’s Major Investigations Department, said: “The sentences the Wilsher brothers have received are welcomed by the force and reflect the level of planning, brutality and ruthlessness of what the brothers were prepared to put their victims through to steal their belongings whilst in the safety of their own homes.
“Their targeting of the vulnerable and elderly across our region has now come to an end and following their incarceration, Staffordshire is undoubtedly now a safer place to live.
“I want to take this opportunity to pay homage to both families and thank them for their ongoing bravery, their dignity and their patience in supporting the investigation in bringing the Wilshers to justice. However, despite the sentences the Wilshers have received, it will not fill the gaps that both Bob and Josephine have left behind. They were both well-loved and significant figures within their family and my heartfelt thoughts are with both families at this time.
“It would be remiss of me not to mention Mr Dennis Taylor, a surviving victim at 86-years-of-age, who has shown incredible bravery and resilience by reliving his ordeal and giving evidence at the trial. His evidence was instrumental to securing the convictions and I wish to formally recognise his contribution and thank him for his support throughout.
“Finally, the investigation team. I am proud and eternally grateful to have led a dedicated and committed team who have worked tirelessly investing both time and emotion into what has been an extremely challenging and complex investigation that has lasted over four years. This result today pays testament to the hard work and dedication of all officers and staff from Staffordshire Police and I wish to thank each and every one of them who worked on this inquiry.”
Family statements:
Bob’s family released the following statement on conviction: “We would like to thank Staffordshire Police for their hard work and persistence that went in to the investigation of the murder of our father.
“If they had not been so thorough in their investigation, together with the barristers Mr Denison QC and Mr Price, then the jury would not have been able to arrive at the decision that they did.
“We now have justice for the murder of our dad and we can move forward with our lives. Thank you to everyone.
“We would also like to express our sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Kaye and would like to pass on our best regards to Dennis Taylor and his family.
“We would also ask that our privacy is respected at this time.”
Josephine’s daughter, Barbara, released the following statement on behalf of her family at conviction: “There has never been any doubt in my mind about the outcome and verdict reached by the jury.
“The jury have found this evil criminal guilty of the murder of my mum, Josephine Kaye.
“Whilst we accept this verdict, nothing can bring my dearest mum back to me or my family.
“My mum was simply a wonderful person, who was kind, generous and compassionate to everyone. Her youthful, positive, outgoing approach to life was a true inspiration, not only to me but to all our family.
“My mum was not only a wonderful mother to my sister and I, but she was also a wonderful Nanna and Great-Nanna.
“I speak on behalf of my family. My mum was more than just a mum or Nanna, she was a best friend and the person we could all rely on for help, advice and unconditional love, along with her cheeky infectious sense of humour.
“My mum was the boss of the family, and she held us all together!
“She has been taken from us far too early, and in such a senseless cruel and evil way, perpetrated by pure evil.
“My mum was simply minding her own business in her own home. We have been left shattered by these events and will never comprehend why this tragic event took place. Justice has been delivered, but why should older vulnerable people have to live in fear of being subjected to being terrorised in their own homes by absolute cowards.
“This should not happen but is all too familiar in today’s society.
“We would like to say thank you to Mr Simon Denison QC and Mr Bob Price for their absolute professionalism and thorough work throughout this trial, and we thank Staffordshire Police for the months of tireless evidence gathering and thorough investigation to ensure justice for mum.
“We would also like to thank Dennis Taylor for giving his evidence in such a brave a selfless way.
“We would like to send our sincere, heartfelt condolences to all of Mr Bob Gumbley’s family who are also going through the pain of losing their much-loved father.
“Finally, my mum was a truly wonderful woman who was loved, admired and respected by so many people and her memory will never fade, her spirit has been with me throughout.
“We need time now to reflect and try to rebuild our lives, whilst we do this, we hope you can respect our privacy at this time.
Dennis Taylor’s family have released the following statement: “Firstly, we would like, as a family, to offer our deepest condolences to the Gumbley and Kaye families for the loss of their loved ones in such terrible circumstances.
“But we do feel justice has now been served with the guilty verdicts announced today.
“We are so very proud of our Dad, Dennis Taylor, for attending court and giving evidence at the age of 86.
“His determination and bravery have helped to convict the individuals who brutally robbed and attacked him back in November 2017.
“We would like to thank Staffordshire Police and all concerned for their hard work involved in bringing this case to trial.”
