Man jailed for murder after hiding body for weeks
A man who hid the body of a man in his home for up to a month in Telford, has today, Friday 10 April, been jailed for 19 years.
On 26 October 2024, concerned neighbours called emergency services after they had not seen 64-year-old Leon Pratt for some time.
Paramedics attended his home in Downemead in Hollinswood where they found his body wrapped in duvets and blankets in his bed.
Jason Trundle, who was Leon’s ‘unofficial carer’ and lived at the address, told paramedics Leon had been dead for ‘about 12 days’.
Police were immediately called to the address, and Trundle was evasive to officers’ questions regarding the circumstances of Leon’s death. He was promptly arrested on suspicion of murder.
Due to the level of decomposition, injuries to Leon were not immediately clear and the cause of death could not be determined. Trundle was released on bail.
A post-mortem examination later revealed that Leon had suffered significant injuries to his back, ribs and neck.
It was also discovered that during the time Leon was dead in his home, Trundle used his bank card on several occasions at local stores.
In September 2025, the 52-year-old was charged with murder, preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body and fraud by false representation.
Trundle, of HMP Hewell, was remanded until the three-week trial at Worcester Crown Court on 16 March 2026.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the second day which was rejected by the prosecution and the trial for murder continued.
The court heard how Trundle had become Leon’s carer after they met online and Trundle had moved into Leon’s home as he had nowhere to live. The pair lived together for around a year and a half until Leon was killed.
Leon’s last phone activity was on 27 September 2024, the same day his car was last used. Officers believe it was on that night or into the early hours of the following day that he was murdered by Trundle.
The jury were told that ‘considerable force’ was used to cause the injuries to his neck and was likely a result of strangulation.
Trundle hid Leon’s body and lied to neighbours for up to 30 days before he was caught.
Yesterday, 9 April, a jury found him guilty of murder, and today he was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 19 years.
He was also handed 30 months for preventing a lawful burial and nine months for fraud, to run concurrent with the sentence for murder.
Detective Inspector Joanne Delahay from the Major Investigations Unit said:“Jason Trundle’s act of violence and the weeks of deceit that followed, which denied Leon and his family the opportunity to lay him to rest respectfully, is deplorable.
“Leon clearly trusted Jason with his life, and he took that away from him.
“We welcome the decision made by the jury this week, and thankful Leon’s family only had to wait another day for Trundle to be sentenced. I hope it brings some closure to Leon’s family and those that knew him.”
