He thought he was being driven to see a car he was buying for them. Instead, two brothers beat him to death on a country road and used his bank card at the nearest cash machine.
Matthew and Luke Roe were sentenced to life in prison for the July 2022 murder of 85-year-old Henry Thwaites in Nottinghamshire, England. A judge described the killing as premeditated and driven by financial gain, not any form of justice.
A Trusted Family Friend
Thwaites, who had previously served two prison sentences for sexual offenses against boys under 16, was a longtime friend of the Roe brothers' mother. On the night of July 23, 2022, he had offered to buy a car for the brothers and believed he was driving them to view a Mercedes.
The Murder
Around 10:40 p.m., the brothers took Thwaites out of his Fiat Punto on a rural road near Worksop and beat him, inflicting 26 head injuries including skull fractures. They then took his bank card, having obtained his PIN, and used it at cash machines.
Arrest
Thwaites's body was found under a metal fence by a member of the public the next morning. Matthew, 25, and Luke, 34, were arrested less than an hour after he was reported missing, found driving his car.
Trial and Convictions
Following a nine-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court, both brothers were convicted of murder on May 26, 2023. Matthew was also convicted of four counts of fraud related to the stolen bank card; Luke was convicted of one count of fraud and a separate charge of criminal damage. Abby Dixon, 27, who was in a relationship with Luke, was separately convicted of two counts of assisting an offender after helping the brothers dispose of clothing following the murder.
Sentencing
Both brothers received life sentences: Luke with a minimum of 25 years, and Matthew with a minimum of 24 years. The detective who led the investigation described the killing as a brutal, premeditated, and cowardly assault on a frail, elderly man, carried out for the brothers' own financial benefit rather than any form of justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sentences did Matthew and Luke Roe receive?
Life sentences, with Luke serving a minimum of 25 years and Matthew a minimum of 24 years.
Was anyone else convicted in connection with the case?
Yes. Abby Dixon, who was in a relationship with Luke Roe, was convicted of two counts of assisting an offender for helping dispose of clothing after the murder.
Was the killing motivated by Henry Thwaites's past convictions?
No. Investigators and the court determined the murder was motivated by financial gain — the brothers wanted his car and bank access — not by any response to his criminal history.