A 37 year old man has been sentenced to life in prison after violently murdering his own grandmother in a shocking attack that has devastated a quiet Coventry neighbourhood
A city is reeling after one of the most heart-wrenching crimes in its recent memory: a man has been sentenced to life behind bars for the savage murder of his own grandmother. Sam Croston, 37, was ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison after brutally attacking 75-year-old Pamela Croston in her own home.
The horror played out in September 2023, when police were summoned to Everdon Road, Coventry, following an emergency signal from Pamela’s personal alarm pendant. What they discovered behind that front door stunned even seasoned officers.
Pamela was found gravely injured, lying on the floor of her living room. Beside her sat her grandson, Sam, calm and silent. The pensioner was rushed to hospital but, despite all efforts, died from her horrific wounds. An autopsy later confirmed that her injuries were not accidental—they were the result of a sustained and deliberate assault.
Croston, when questioned, claimed he had no memory of what had happened. But the evidence told a different story. The scene was one of chaos, and the violence Pamela endured pointed to pure rage. The court heard that there had been no prior warning signs, no argument that day, no indication of what was to come.
The jury at Warwick Crown Court was unmoved by Croston’s claims of amnesia. Instead, they convicted him of murder, sealing his fate with a life sentence. The presiding judge described the attack as “vicious and unprovoked,” and told Croston that he would not be eligible for parole for at least three decades.
Embed from Getty Images“This was a calculated and cowardly act,” the judge said. “You knew your grandmother relied on you, and you betrayed her in the worst possible way.”
Family members sat in silence as the sentence was handed down, some weeping, others staring ahead in disbelief. Pamela, known locally for her warmth and kindness, had lived on the same street for decades. She was deeply involved in the community and much loved by neighbours and friends.
“She didn’t deserve this,” a neighbour told reporters outside the court. “She was a beautiful soul. To die at the hands of someone she loved is just unthinkable.”
Police have since praised Pamela’s quick action in activating her emergency pendant, which they say enabled first responders to arrive swiftly. However, by the time they reached her, the damage was already done.
Detective Inspector Ranj Sangha, who led the investigation, said: “This is a deeply tragic case. Pamela should have been safe in her home. Instead, her life was cruelly taken by her own grandson.”
The case has sent shockwaves across Coventry and prompted calls for increased mental health support and family intervention resources, with many asking how such a brutal act could occur without warning.
As the city mourns Pamela Croston, the legacy she leaves is one of quiet dignity and compassion. Her memory will live on, even as her killer faces the full weight of justice.
A 37 year old man has been sentenced to life in prison after violently murdering his own grandmother in a shocking attack that has devastated a quiet Coventry neighbourhood
