An evil burglar who tortured and battered an elderly woman to death and assaulted her husband during a 'merciless' attack in their own home has been found guilty of murder.

Vasile Culea, 34, subjected Freda Walker, 86, and her husband Ken, 88, to a ‘brutal, sustained and savage' assault at their property in Langwith Junction, Derbys.

The frail and elderly couple were both severely beaten before being bound, hog-tied, gagged and 'left to their fate' in an attack which was 'devoid of mercy'.

A court heard had Culea forced his way into the house on January 14 this year after learning the couple had £30,000 hidden at their home of 60 years.

The Romanian national had 'lay in wait' under the cover of darkness after making several reconnaissance trips around Station Road during the day.

He then demanded the money and tortured Freda in front of her husband when forgetful Ken could not remember where the money was stored.

Ken, a former mayor and district council chairman, was found critically injured after a horrified neighbour discovered Freda's body in a pool of blood in the kitchen.

The charity worker had multiple blunt force injuries after being battered to death and she was found gagged with plastic bags and a pillowcase over her head.

Ken a retired electrician who had worked in the mining industry, was found bound at the knees under the dining room table also gagged and covered in blood.

He survived the attack despite being repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on - but passed away seven months later from natural causes.

Culea was arrested at his home in Church Warsop, Notts, five days after the break-in following a police manhunt.

He was today (Tue) found guilty of murdering Freda following a two week long trial at Derby Crown Court.

He was cleared of attempting to murder Ken but convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

A jury of 11 men and one woman took two hours and 25 minutes to return their unanimous verdicts.

The court heard how Ken and Freda, who had been married more than 60 years, had withdrawn £30,000 in cash to carry out essential renovations on their home.

Culea claimed he overheard discussions about the couple’s stashed money in a foreign food shop and began plotting a way to get into their home.

He is believed to have forced entry into the property shortly after Freda had finished watching her favourite TV show Emmerdale and got up to let the cat out.

When Culea broke in and demanded the cash and Ken could not reveal its precise location, it is claimed he became 'incredulous' and resorted to violence

The intruder searched the house for the money but only managed to source £300 from Freda’s purse.

Freda, a retired seamstress, was found dead the next morning by a concerned neighbour who came around to check on her.

Prosecutor Michael Auty described the attack as ‘savage in its nature and sustained’.