Murderer Who Killed Millionaire Fiancée Jailed Again After Brutal Attack Left Elderly Father Fearing for His Life

A convicted murderer who killed his millionaire fiancée in a brutal attack in France has been jailed again after violently assaulting his elderly father and leaving him fearing for his life.

Ian Griffin, 57, was sentenced to five years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to his 83-year-old father, Bernard Griffin, and threatening to damage property.

The attack happened in May 2025 while Griffin was living in the summerhouse of his parents' home in Winwick, Warrington.

Police arrived to find Bernard with serious facial injuries and blood covering his face and clothing. Body-worn camera footage shown in court captured the moment he was taken from the house.

He told an officer: 'I'm glad to see you, he'd have killed me.'

Elderly Father Suffered Fractured Nose

The court heard Griffin's attack lasted between 30 minutes and an hour and was partly recorded on his mother's mobile phone. The footage showed Griffin threatening his father in an attempt to make him sign a note promising to give half of his estate to Griffin's mother, Janet.

Prosecutor Andrew Scott described the attack as 'gratuitous' and 'degrading.' Bernard suffered a fractured nose, bruising and lost a gold tooth during the assault. In a statement read to the court, he said he remained frightened about what might happen if his son were released and said he did not want any contact with him.

Griffin also pleaded guilty to threatening to damage property. The court heard that the charge related to threats to burn down a neighbour's house made the day before the assault.

Griffin Previously Murdered Millionaire Fiancée

The latest case came years after Griffin was convicted in France of murdering his millionaire fiancée, Kinga Legg. Legg was found dead in the bath of a £1,000-a-night room (approximately $1,300 a night) at the Bristol Hotel in Paris in May 2009.

The court heard Griffin had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Paris after being convicted of the killing. Prosecutors said Legg suffered around 100 blows to her head, face and body during what was described as a frenzied attack.

Griffin fled to Britain and was eventually found in woodland near Warrington before being extradited to France. He was released in 2016 after serving 22 months following an appeal on medical grounds.

Judge Rules Griffin Is Dangerous Offender

During the latest sentencing hearing, Griffin attempted to explain his behaviour by claiming he had been trying to protect his parents from men who were allegedly attempting to blackmail his father. He said he had suffered a 'total meltdown' and apologised for attacking his father. His mother appeared as a defence witness and described him as a 'very good son.'

But Judge David Swinnerton rejected Griffin's attempt to minimise the seriousness of his past and present offending. The judge ruled Griffin was a dangerous offender and sentenced him to five years in custody, followed by an extended one-year licence period. He also imposed indefinite restraining orders preventing Griffin from contacting his father and two neighbours.

Reports say that Griffin asked how he could appeal his sentence and conviction as the hearing ended.