By SWEPnino | Posted: October 25, 2016
THE home where a tenant murdered his landlord has been sold at a cut-price figure at auction.
The three-storey home in Vivivan Road in Sketty was owned by former telecoms engineer Alec Warburton, who rented out rooms to lodgers, including to 40-year-old David Ellis.
Ellis was found guilty in June following a trial at Swansea Crown Court of the murder of 59-year-old Mr Warburton some time at the beginning of August 2015.
Swansea Crown Court heard how Ellis had beaten his landlord to death with a hammer at the house, and forensic examination of the property had detected efforts to clean-up blood from the walls.
Alec Warburton (left) was killed by his lodger David Ellis (right)
After killing Mr Warburton, Ellis had driven his body to north Wales where he dumped it at a disused quarry.
The property has now been sold at auction for £126,000 – far below the asking price of similar properties on the street, some of which are on offer for up to £190,000.
Mr Warburton's estate is understood to be controlled by his brother Graham, who first alerted police after growing concerned at not being able to get his sibling on the phone.
A former neighbour said: "I lived next door in 2012 and it was a nice little home back then, I think £126,000 is a steal.
"But what happened inside was a real tragedy and the memory will linger there for some time – I'm not sure I'd like to live there."
The five-bedroom property was sold as offering potential for conversion to a home of multiple occupation, or for re-establishing to a family property.
Ellis was jailed for 26 years after being found guilty of the murder by a jury.
Trial judge Mr Justice Robin Knowles, passing sentence, said: "The murder was done in the expectation of gain. It is a case of particularly high seriousness, statutory aggravating features including planning, which I find to be significant, and concealment of the body.
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