Dean Mears Jailed for Life for Brutal Murder of Rhyl Grandmother

June 24 2025

A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the savage murder of 69-year-old Catherine Flynn at her home in Rhyl, Denbighshire. The case was prosecuted by Andrew Jones KC.

Dean Mears, 34, from Kinmel Bay, broke into Mrs Flynn’s home on 24 October 2024, dragging her from her bed and stamping on her with such force that every bone in her face was broken. The attack, described by the judge as “savage, ferocious and merciless,” was captured on a Ring doorbell camera and lasted less than two minutes.

Mrs Flynn’s daughter, Natasha Flynn-Farrell, received the doorbell alert and watched helplessly as the attack unfolded. She later described the moment as the most “vile and sickening” of her life.

Mears, who had taken ketamine and cannabis before the attack, was found guilty of murder following a nine-day trial at Caernarfon Crown Court. He had admitted manslaughter but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The jury rejected this defence.

Sentencing Mears to life with a minimum term of 27 years and 128 days, Judge Rhys Rowlands said the attack was “truly shocking and cruel,” and that Mears had shown no remorse for his actions 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2j030yl3lo