Man Found Guilty Of Killing Longtime Friend in Desborough

A Desborough man who subjected his vulnerable elderly friend of nearly 20 years to a prolonged attack has been convicted of murder.

Samuel Field violently beat 93-year-old Martin Glynn in a cannabis-fuelled attack inside his flat in the town’s Gold Street for over a 10-hour period, before eventually calling the emergency services more than 24-hours later.

Following an 11-day trial at Northampton Crown Court, it took the jury of seven men and five women less than four hours to deliberate and today (Wednesday, May 6) they found Field guilty of murdering Mr Glynn.

During the trial, the court heard that on September 19, 2024, Mr Glynn travelled by bus from his home in Kings Heath, Northampton, to Field’s flat.  This was a two-hour journey he took at least once a week to see his friend.

However, on this occasion when Mr Glynn arrived, Field was less than welcoming, fuelled by a conspiracy theory he had totally imagined in which his best friend had betrayed him to an unknown “Irishman”.

The court heard that Field’s mental health had declined in the preceding months and with his paranoia in a heightened state, and when he didn’t get the confession he wanted, he tortured Mr Glynn in a prolonged and sustained attack.

After punching, kicking and stomping on the head of his elderly guest, Field strangled him, fracturing a bone in his neck and leaving Mr Glynn with severe bruising and swelling to his face and body.

Footage from a hidden camera inside the flat showed Field continuing as though nothing had happened, while Mr Glynn’s feet could be seen as he laid motionless on the floor.

Finally late into the night on September 20, more than 24 hours after the assault, Field called East Midlands Ambulance Service several times and provided a full confession, prompting the call handler to alert Northamptonshire Police.

Field, 40, was waiting for them outside his flat for the police to arrive and when arrested, he stated that he had “assaulted someone” and “I know what I have done”. Despite being told that he was under caution, Field continued to tell them what had happened.

Inside the flat, Mr Glynn was in the bathroom and appeared confused as to how he had come to have sustained the serious facial injuries. He was taken to Northampton General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with multiple bleeds on the brain and a fractured neck.

Field was charged with Section 18 Grievous Bodily Harm with intent and on September 23, he was remanded into custody by Northampton Magistrates’ Court, and his case was committed to the crown court for trial.

Sadly, Mr Glynn never recovered from the serious injuries he sustained in the attack and three months later on Boxing Day (December 26), he died.

On Tuesday, August 26 last year, at an appearance at Northampton Crown Court, Field was charged with Mr Glynn’s murder, and he was further remanded into custody to await trial.

Midway through his trial, Field opted to represent himself and dismissed his defence counsel before choosing not to provide a defence. This gave the jury no other option but to find him guilty of murdering Mr Glynn.

Speaking after the verdict, Deputy Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Megan Scotney, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit said: “Samuel Field described Mr Glynn as his best friend of almost two decades.

“However, instead of looking out for Mr Glynn, Field exploited their friendship and tortured the 93-year-old over 10-hours, inflicting the most horrific injuries on a vulnerable man, which ultimately cost him his life.

“Mr Glynn lived independently and through his loyalty to Field, travelled more than two hours from his home in Northampton to Desborough at least once, sometimes twice a week to visit him.

“Only Field knows why he attacked Mr Glynn that day, but I am pleased the jury has seen him for what he truly is – a dangerous, violent man.

“Nothing can bring Mr Glynn back, but I very much hope this guilty verdict offers his loved ones some comfort. Our thoughts remain with them all in their grief.”

Field will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, May 29.