Killer of two-year-old little one dies after 38 years behind bars

The father of a two-year-old little one murdered in Birmingham 31 years in the past says he’ll body the letter which confirms the loss of life of her killer in jail.

Robert Astley was jailed for all times with a minimal time period of 20 years in 1983 after admitting to the homicide of Denise Bradbury.

Astley, who was 23 on the time, was despatched to a most safety jail and was denied parole in May 2022 after spending 38 years locked up, having been handed further jail time for a brutal assault on a fellow inmate eight years beforehand.

In a letter despatched to Denise’s father on January 3, a Victim Liaison Officer confirmed Astley had died behind bars at HMP Norwich on December 27 aged 64. 

Dennis Bradbury stated of the letter: ‘I’ll in all probability body it and cling it up. It may sound crude however that is how I really feel – I would like everybody to know the b****** is gone.’ 

Dad Dennis Bradbury stated of the letter: ‘I’ll in all probability body it and cling it up. It may sound crude however that is how I really feel ‘

Robert Astley (left) was jailed for all times with a minimal time period of 20 years in 1983 after admitting to the homicide of Denise Bradbury (proper)

Dennis, who now lives in Sutton Coldfield and is 68, had gone to the pub with mates the evening Astley snatched child Denise from his residence

Dennis, who now lives in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, and is 68, had gone to the pub with mates the evening Astley snatched child Denise from his residence. 

He had left his kids with a babysitter, however once they had gone residence, Astley snuck into their Clapton Grove residence and took the newborn. 

Little Denise was kidnapped from her Kingstanding residence earlier than she was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered.

Her battered physique was discovered behind a automotive in Sparkhill two days later. 

Astley was sentenced to life imprisonment after confessing to murdering the toddler at Birmingham Crown Court in October 1983. 

He was despatched to Full Sutton jail that homes among the nation’s most infamous killers. 

His reason behind loss of life was not identified and will probably be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. 

The Ministry of Justice instructed Dennis within the letter: ‘I’m writing to verify I’ve lately been knowledgeable that RA has died whereas in custody.’ 

In an announcement, the Ministry of Justice stated: ‘Prisoner Robert Astley died on 27 December at HMP Norwich. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will examine.’ 

Dennis, who’s now a grandfather-of-ten and raised his kids alone after his spouse died in a automotive crash, stated: ‘From what I heard he was struggling together with his well being.

‘I used to be instructed his household had been requested in the event that they needed to go to him earlier than he died, however they did not need to know. They knew he did it.’ 

Astley was sentenced to an extra two years in jail in 2016 after attacking one other inmate with scalding sizzling water. He admitted the assault at Hull Crown Court. 

He had beforehand refused to interact with parole companies as a result of he believed ‘those that have dedicated homicide can’t be healed’.