A man who murdered a former world champion boxer and dismembered his body with a chainsaw has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 years. Thomas Dunkley, 29, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of killing Shaun Cummins, known as 'The Shovel', at Leicester Crown Court.
Cummins, a former WBA inter-continental light middleweight champion, retired from boxing in 1995. He was left paralysed in a motorbike accident in 2004 and required home care, with Dunkley acting as his informal carer. The 55-year-old's body was discovered in 10 pieces inside three freezers at his home in Marriott Road, Leicester, in September.
Dunkley admitted cutting up the body and storing it, as well as four counts of fraud, but denied murder, claiming Cummins died of natural causes in his sleep and he panicked. The judge, Mrs Justice Dobbs, described the dismemberment as a 'grotesque act' violating Cummins' dignity. She noted that while Dunkley was bullied by Cummins, provocation was not an issue in the case.
The court heard Dunkley used Cummins' credit cards to buy a chainsaw, gloves, mask, overalls and goggles for the dismemberment. When he ran out of space, he bought another freezer with the cards. He also cashed cheques from a trust fund. Superintendent Matt Hewson of Leicestershire Police said Dunkley became frustrated at not being financially compensated for his care and believed he would receive payment from a business venture.
Dunkley was sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve at least 34 years before parole consideration.
