Ashley Malcolm jailed for 18 years over John Burke’s death

Ashley Malcolm, 40, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to 18 years in prison and five years on extended licence after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of 86-year-old John Burke, who was attacked during a burglary at his Hackney home in September 2025. Judge Simon Mayo KC said Malcolm headbutted Burke during a prolonged burglary at the flat Burke shared with his wife, Peggy. The judge said the blow fractured Burke’s nose and caused bleeding inside his skull, from which he died. Burke’s grandson, Reece Lambert, told the court he believed his grandfather had been attacked while protecting his wife. That was the family’s understanding of the incident, rather than a separately established account of Burke’s actions. Malcolm entered the Fountayne Road home shortly before midnight on September 29, the court heard, and spent about 90 minutes inside before leaving with a shopping trolley. He returned later and spent another 20 minutes in the flat. A carer found Burke injured the following morning. His wife, who also has dementia, had slept through the incident, according to the reports of the court proceedings. Burke was taken to Homerton Hospital and discharged at 2:35 p.m.