Overview

• Anthony Jacob, a 75-year-old retired bricklayer, was fatally attacked by Jake Saunders in Weymouth after challenging him for vandalizing a van.
• The December 2024 assault lasted 10 minutes, during which Saunders broke every bone in Jacob’s face and caused 30 injuries, leaving him unrecognizable to his family.
• Saunders, who was drunk and upset after a breakup, pleaded guilty to murder and assaulting emergency workers while in custody, including breaking a paramedic’s jaw.
• On May 19, 2025, Judge Susan Evans sentenced Saunders to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years before parole eligibility.
• Jacob’s family has publicly criticized the sentence as inadequate, expressing frustration over the justice system and mourning the loss of a beloved father and grandfather.