A jury has sentenced Wayne Milsom to 15 years in custody for manslaughter after the death of a vulnerable pensioner in Keynsham. The 51-year-old was convicted after a re-trial in July 2026. He was found guilty of causing the death of 72-year-old Stephen Ridgeway, who died in hospital on Saturday 7 December 2024, after being assaulted at his home in the early hours of Sunday 3 November 2024. At Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 21 October, the court heard in mitigation that Milsom has expressed sorrow for Ridgeway’s death and had engaged positively while on remand. Judge Julian Lambert said there was a clear causal link between Ridgeway’s chest trauma, his swift respiratory deterioration and ultimately his death. The judge described the attack as cruel, callous and calculated, saying Ridgeway was frail and would never have been any sort of threat. The sentencing hearing also heard that medical conditions in Milsom’s psychiatric report did not substantially reduce his culpability. Milsom was given 15 years in custody, plus an extended licence period of four years, meaning he will serve a minimum of two thirds before being eligible for parole. During trial, jurors heard Ridgeway’s 999 call to ambulance services, in which he described being attacked and said he was in “terrific pain”. Ridgeway told the call handler he had pain in his chest and back, a lump on his head and a scratch to his neck, and that he had broken his back the previous year. He was admitted to hospital and found to have fractures to six ribs. The court heard he already had breathing problems, but the chest trauma from the assault led to his death. Police were told Ridgeway was attacked after two men forced their way into his home and demanded drugs. Ridgeway said he was attacked when he told them he did not know anything about drugs. The court heard DNA from Milsom was found on the top Ridgeway was wearing and on items at the house in Tenby Road, including a hammer, a champagne bottle and two knives. Milsom admitted being at the house when Ridgeway was injured but denied manslaughter, claiming Ridgeway instigated the fight. The jury rejected his account. Milsom had previously been acquitted of murder in 2025, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on manslaughter, leading to the re-trial. A second man, Ryan Robbins, 35, was acquitted on all counts at the 2025 trial. Judge Lambert’s sentencing followed an impact statement read for Ridgeway’s brother, who said the stress of the death has left him feeling vulnerable and unsafe. The case was investigated by Detective Chief Inspector James Wasiak, and Milsom is now sentenced and serving a 15-year term.