Det Ch Insp Stacey Atkinson said: “What we heard from those who knew Darren Leach was that he was a well-liked man who sadly had had issues with alcoholism in recent years.
“Joyce has preyed on Darren’s vulnerabilities and appears to have gone to his home that day with the intention of taking cash or other property from him.
“While we do not know whether the cause of the fire was deliberate or accidental, the evidence presented to the court tells us that Darren’s injuries left him incapacitated meaning he was unable to escape the fire and therefore played a significant role in his death.”
In a statement, Mr Leach’s siblings said: “Despite the verdict, we are still left with the pain and heartache of Darren’s death, knowing we will never see him again and Darren will never get to see his children and grandchildren grow up.
“Darren was a kind and thoughtful man who lost his way through tragedy, losing our mother in 2007. Darren has now got the justice he deserves.”