A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of a convicted paedophile.
Anthony Gardiner, 66, previously of Daniels Road, Stroud was charged with the murder of 76-year-old John Coxon following an investigation by the Major Crime Investigation Team.
Coxon, who had several convictions for child sexual offences and served a year in prison in 2016, sustained a head injury in the incident and remained in hospital until his death two months later.
During a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday (12 December), Gardiner pleaded guilty to the offence.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at the same court on 17 January.
Police had been called to a property on Park Road, Stonehouse on 12 January 2022 with a report that Mr Coxon had sustained a head injury.
He remained in hospital until he died on 25 March the same year, and the Major Crime Investigation Team then launched a murder investigation.
Detective Inspector Adam Stacey said: “Gardiner was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after he had assaulted Mr Coxon at his home address.
“When he died in hospital months later, we launched a murder investigation and then re-arrested Gardiner.
“I welcome his guilty plea which means Mr Coxon’s family do not have to go through the process of a trial.”
