Hull man sentenced to life for murder of Tony Ibbitson

A man who inflicted multiple acute injuries on his victim, leaving him unconscious in a burning flat, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years.

Neighbours and passers-by summoned the fire brigade after seeing smoke billowing from Tony Ibbitson’s home in Hull, just after 8.30pm on 29 November 2023.

Mr Ibbitson (54) lit his flat by candle light as his electricity had been cut off. He was rescued by firefighters and taken first to Hull Royal Infirmary and then to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, where he died on 1 December 2023.

It was found that he had suffered multiple blunt force blows consistent with being forcefully punched and kicked. In addition to other serious injuries these blows caused a brain injury that rendered him unconscious .He also had 36% burns on his body.

Mark Vaskouski  was identified following a police investigation. He had visited the Terry Street flat that evening and  was heard shouting “Give me all the drugs”  and “Enjoy the fire – get out.”

Zoe Nixon from the CPS said: “Mark Vaskouski left his unconscious and fatally injured victim in a burning building. This was the most callous and appalling crime and our thoughts remain with Tony Ibbitson’s family at this devastating time.”