Man jailed for fatal slap of 80-year-old landlord

A man who slapped his elderly landlord, causing his death, has been jailed for manslaughter.

Arno Engels, originally from Namibia, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison over the death of 80-year-old Anthony Scarrott from Worthing.

Engels hit Scarrott after the elderly man came home drunk in September 2025, Hove Crown Court was told.

The slap caused Scarrott to hit his head on a table, fracturing the top of his spine and leaving him paralysed. Three days later, his life support was turned off.

The defence barrister representing Engels said he expected his client to be deported.

The court heard how Engels had rented a room from Scarrott in 2024 after a chance meeting outside a pub.

The men then became close friends, regularly drinking together and consuming cocaine, the court was told.

But on one occasion a downstairs neighbour heard Scarrott say to Engels: "You've taken my money, where's my bank card?"

On 11 September 2025, Scarrott had been drinking at a pub in Worthing for three hours before he was sent home in a taxi.

Residents on Scarrott's street then found him in a drunk state, slumped in the road, before Engels came to help.

When the men got home an argument ensued. Engels originally claimed Scarrott had thrown a glass at him and then fell down.

In a 999 call he said: "My landlord is 80, he fell over and hit his head on the corner of the table."

Engels was initially arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and was released on police bail.

Scarrott's life support was turned off after he was left paralysed below the neck with little chance of recovery.

A few days later, a drunk Engels told police officers: "I gave him a slap and he was out cold... I didn't mean it... he never gave me my space... I want to come clean."

Engels was then arrested on suspicion of murder and held in custody before pleading guilty to manslaughter in January.

Det Insp Amanda Zinyama from Sussex Police said: "Tony was kind enough to offer Engels a place to stay in his home, but Engels took advantage of his generosity, losing his temper and hitting Tony, ultimately causing him fatal injuries.

"Engels rightfully has been given a custodial sentence for the serious consequences of his actions."

Scarrott's sister Sandra described how her brother went jet skiing and abseiling in Spain on his 80th birthday and said: "Tony wasn't your average 80-year-old."

In a victim personal statement read out to the court, she said: "Tony was a kind, generous person who has always been someone who would take people in who had fallen on hard times."

She added: "I fear that this generous and loving nature made him vulnerable to being taken advantage of.

"I have no doubt that Tony would have tried to help Arno in this way and this angers me as he did not deserve to have his kindness exploited as it has been."

Sentencing Engels, Her Honour Judge Henson KC said: "The introduction of Class A drugs into Tony's life at 80 years of age for the first time, as well as trips with you that were out of character, caused concern to friends.

"I cannot be sure to the criminal standard that the relationship can be defined in law as controlling and coercive, but I am sure it was certainly a volatile relationship where the frailty and vulnerability of a man half your age and stature was obvious and apparent to you."

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