This is the horrifying moment a convicted drug dealer is caught on a Ring doorbell camera smashing his way into a defenceless grandmother’s home before beating her to death.
Catherine Flynn’s daughter could only watch in terror as Dean Mears – who was ‘high on drugs’ – forced his way into the 69-year-old’s seaside home.
Harrowing audio then captured the appalling sound of 15 thuds as the scaffolder dragged Mrs Flynn – who had mobility issues and used a Zimmer frame – out of bed and stamped repeatedly her face and neck.
Heartbreakingly the terrified pensioner could be heard begging: ‘Please don’t!’
Less than two minutes after breaking in, the 34-year-old dived out of the broken window before fleeing, leaving the pensioner dying.
After the ketamine and cannabis user was today convicted of her murder, a judge said he had no doubt that drugs were the ‘root cause’ of his senseless crime.
He said Mears had probably gone to the wrong address and targeted Mrs Flynn by mistake.
Police have now released the heartbreaking clip, mercifully with audio from inside the house removed.
Dean Mears, 34, was filmed on a Ring doorbell camera smashing his way into defenceless grandmother Catherine Flynn’s home in Rhyl last October
Following her death, locals paid tribute to Catherine Flynn, saying: ‘She was the nicest lady you could ever meet, would do anything for anyone, a true queen with a heart of gold.’
Natasha Flynn had been at home when she received a notification and video from the smart doorbell that a man was outside her mother’s house in Rhyl, north Wales last October.
Horrifying footage shows an agitated-looking Mears kicking at the front door before smashing his way through a downstairs window.
The doorbell captured him demanding to know where Mrs Flynn kept her keys as she begged him to leave her alone.
By the time relatives had raised the alarm and police had rushed to the scene, he had already fled, leaving Mrs Flynn with injuries a pathologist likened to those seen in high impact crashes.
Meanwhile callous Mears was disposing of his bloodstained clothes in a doomed bid to cover his tracks.
Following the death of Mrs Flynn – known as Cathy – one local said: ‘She was the nicest lady you could ever meet, would do anything for anyone, a true queen with a heart of gold.’
The drug addict admitted Mrs Flynn’s manslaughter but denied murder, saying he couldn’t remember why he had attacked her.
But a prosecution psychiatrist told his trial at Caernarfon Crown Court that he didn’t suffer from a severe mental illness.
Catherine Flynn died in hospital a day after being attacked in her home in Rhyl last October
A judge today said he had no doubt that Dean Mears’ drug addiction was the ‘root cause’ of his tragic attack on Mrs Flynn
Questioned by his KC Richard Pratt, Mears agreed he’d been jailed in 2021 for possessing drugs with intent to supply.
In evidence Mears claimed he didn’t know why he went to Mrs Flynn’s home. She was a stranger and he had no reason to hurt her.
‘Do you remember what you did in the house?’ Mr Pratt asked him.
‘I don’t remember,’ insisted Mears.
The KC said he had subjected the pensioner to a ‘terrible’ attack in the house and caused the ‘most horrific’ injuries.
Mears replied :’I accept that.’
He added: ‘I just know it was a terrible thing to happen. I wish I had answers.’
Cross-examined by prosecuting KC Andrew Jones, Mears repeatedly answered: ‘I don’t remember.’
Opening the case, Mr Jones said Mears ‘inflicted such severe damage to the face of Mrs Flynn that she had no chance of surviving this vicious, unprovoked assault’.
He added: ‘His actions before and after the death of Mrs Flynn show clearly he knew what he was doing and what he had done.
Catherine Flynn’s daughter Natasha heard glass smashing as Dean Mears broke into her home through a downstairs window
Scaffolder Dean Mears, 34, will be sentenced next month after being convicted of Catherine Flynn’s murder
‘He set about trying to cover his tracks by disposing of clothing he knew was covered in Mrs Flynn’s blood.’
The jury today took four hours to find him guilty of murder.
Mears, of Kinmel Bay, faces life in jail when he is sentenced next month.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told him Mrs Flynn had been ‘an extremely vulnerable 69-year- old lady’ and he had murdered her ‘in what should have been the safety of her own home’.
‘In my judgement there’s every reason to believe, high on drugs, you went to Mrs Flynn’s home by mistake.
‘You intended to go to someone else’s address.’
The judge added: ‘Any loss of life is tragic, but your killing of Mrs Flynn that night wasn’t only senseless but the circumstances surrounding it can only be viewed as truly horrific.
‘You broke in, went up the stairs, passing the chair or stairlift on the stairs she used because she had only limited mobility.
‘You dragged her out of bed, demanding repeatedly to know where the keys were, and repeatedly stamped on the victim on her face and neck, causing the most catastrophic of injuries.
‘As to exactly why you behaved in that way, only you will know.’
But the judge said drugs had ruined Mears’ life and now the life of another family.
‘I have no doubt the root cause was your long-standing addiction to harmful illicit drugs and association with the dealers at a higher level of these drugs.’
Addressing Mrs Flynn’s family, who cheered the guilty verdict from the public gallery, the judge added :’I can’t for one moment put myself in their shoes.
‘What a dreadful experience to have gone through:’
He added that not many juries had to listen to somebody being killed.
Afterwards Senior Investigating Officer Superintendent Lee Boycott of North Wales Police said: ‘On 24th October 2024, Dean Mears broke into Cathy Flynn’s home whilst she was sleeping and ferociously and repeatedly stamped on her in a brutal and violent unprovoked attack.
‘The injuries Cathy sustained were not survivable and she tragically died the following day in hospital.
‘His abhorrent actions that night was witnessed by Cathy’s daughter on her doorbell footage, which will undoubtedly stay with her and her family forever.
‘Despite Mears showing no remorse for his actions, Cathy’s family have remained dignified and respectful throughout the judicial process.
‘I commend them for their courage and my thoughts remain with them today.
‘I welcome today’s verdict and thank the jury, and the investigation team, for their diligent work in securing justice for Cathy’s family.’
