A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for the murder of Ian Jupe, which occurred in Southampton this past May. Tom Alexander Ellison, residing at Mountain Ash Close, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday, 21 November, for sentencing after a jury found him guilty of murdering 58-year-old Ian Jupe.
Ellison denied intentionally killing Ian, who was discovered deceased at his home on Mountain Ash Close on Tuesday, 28 May 2024. However, he admitted that he had intended to cause harm. The court was informed that Ian was last seen alive on the evening of Monday, 27 May, and was found dead inside his flat by a friend the following morning.
Police were called to the scene and, suspecting foul play, launched a murder investigation. A Home Office post-mortem examination determined that Ian had died from compression to the neck. Following police inquiries, Ellison was arrested on suspicion of murder.
During the trial, prosecutor Charles Row KC described how Ellison had entered Ian’s flat shortly before 7:20 am and murdered him. He then stole Ian’s Post Office card, subsequently withdrawing £480.10. Ellison returned to the flat afterward, making calls to Ian’s phone in a bid to cover his tracks.
At the hearing on Thursday, Ellison received a sentence of 17 years and 194 days in prison.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Gillooly, the Senior Investigating Officer, commented after the sentencing: “We are pleased with the jury’s verdict and today’s sentence. We would like to thank everyone involved in this investigation for their tireless work in holding the person responsible for Ian’s death accountable. We believe that the guilty verdict and sentence today reflect this.”
He added, “I hope today’s result brings some level of closure to Ian’s family, as they now know that the person responsible for his death has been brought to justice. Our thoughts remain with Ian’s friends, family, and all those who knew him.”
Ian’s sister expressed her grief, saying: “I miss my brother so much. He was taken away from me and my family in this tragic incident. I was asked to look after him on my mum’s deathbed, and unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”
Gavin Sumpter, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Wessex, stated: “Tom Ellison murdered Ian Jupe in a despicable act of violence. I would like to pay tribute to the strength of Mr Jupe’s family throughout these proceedings, and I hope the outcome of this case brings some measure of comfort to them. Working with our criminal justice partners, the CPS is committed to ensuring that those who exploit and harm the most vulnerable members of our communities are held accountable for their actions.”
