Walsall man found guilty of murdering friend in Cheslyn Hay
Bradley Nightingale has been found guilty of the murder of Jake Mills
A man from Walsall has been convicted of the murder of his friend in Cheslyn Hay.
Bradley Nightingale, 29, of Bloxwich, has been found guilty by a jury of the murder of Jake Mills.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how 34-year-old Jake Mills was found dead inside his flat on High Street on 18 September 2025.
He was found with a stab wound to his neck.
Investigations revealed that Nightingale was the last person inside the flat with Jake.
He was seen on CCTV leaving his address and driving off in Jake's car before crashing it and fleeing.
Nightingale was arrested on 20 September at his home.
He said in police interviews that he was given permission to drive the car by Jake and that he didn't murder him.
Evidence soon proved that Nightingale had used Jake’s bank card to pay for the bus on the morning he fled the area.
He also sold his phone at a cash convertor type shop that same morning.
Detective Inspector Gina Pope, from MID, said: “This was a particularly tragic case which has seen a father taken away from his young daughter, and a wider family which loved him very dearly.
“I’m pleased that we’ve been able to gather strong evidence to show the jury what happened to Jake, and to provide some closure to his family.
“Our thoughts very much remain with them.”
Nightingale is due to be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 19 June.