Laughing child killer who snatched two-year-old from her bed dies in prison

04 January 2024 , 22:54

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Two-year-old Denise Bradbury was brutally murdered by Robert Astley in 1983 (Image: BirminghamLive/BPM Media)

A warped child killer who smiled and laughed at his trial has died in prison.

Robert Astley was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years in 1983 after admitting the murder of two-year-old Denise Bradbury.

He had abducted the toddler from her home in Kingstanding, Birmingham, before sexually assaulting her and dumping her body in the back of a car.

Denise's battered body was found in the back of a car in the Sparkhill area of the city two days later.

In a letter sent to Denise’s father, a Victim Liaison Officer confirmed Astley had died behind bars. Astley died at HMP Norwich on 27 December at the age of 64.

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Robert Astley was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years in 1983 after admitting the toddler's murder (BPM MEDIA)

Dad Dennis Bradbury has spoken of his relief upon receiving the letter, and told Birmingham Live: "I’ll probably frame it and hang it up. It might sound crude but that’s how I feel - I want everyone to know the b****** is gone.” Dennis, who now lives in Sutton Coldfield and is 68, had gone to the pub with friends the night sick Astley struck. He had left his children with a babysitter, but when they had gone home, Astley snuck into their Clapton Grove home and snatched Denise.

Astley was sentenced to life in prison and sent to Full Sutton prison near York, which houses some of the country's most notorious killers. His cause of death was not known. According to standard procedure with deaths in custody, his death will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

Dennis Bradbury, father of Denise, said he was relieved to be told that Astley was dead (BPM MEDIA)

Dennis, who is now a grandfather-of-10 and raised his children alone after his wife died in a car crash, said of Astley: “From what I heard he was suffering with his health. I was told his family were asked if they wanted to visit him before he died, but they didn’t want to know. They knew he did it. I can still picture him smiling and laughing in the courtroom. We wanted him to suffer like she’d suffered - I’m glad he was behind bars when he died.”

Astley was sentenced to a further two years in prison in 2016 after attacking another inmate with scalding hot water. He admitted the assault at Hull Crown Court. In a letter dated January 3, the MoJ told Mr Bradbury: "I am writing to confirm I have recently been informed that RA has died while in custody." In a statement the MoJ said: "Prisoner Robert Astley died on 27 December at HMP Norwich. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate."

Nathan Clarke