‘Relief’ for father after daughter’s murderer dies
It was the ‘best Christmas present ever’, says dad, after 40 years of grief and anger
THE father of a two-year-old brutally murdered after being snatched from her bed said news of her killer’s death was “the best Christmas present ever”.
Robert Astley was sentenced to life in jail for the murder of Denise Bradbury in 1983.
The twisted killer abducted little Denise from her Kingstanding home before he sexually assaulted her and dumped her body in the back of a car two days later.
Astley, who spent 38 years in a high-security prison, died at HMP Norwich at the age of 64 on December 27. Denise’s dad, Dennis, said news of his death had come as a ‘relief’ to their family, who feared the killer might seek revenge if released.
His death was confirmed in a letter sent to him by his Victim Liaison Officer, which 68-year-old Dennis said he wanted to hang on his wall.
“It was the best Christmas present ever,” he told the Birmingham Post.
“I’ve always said a life for a life – that’s how I always felt about it. I hope he suffered.”
Dennis, who now has ten grandchildren, said he was informed of Astley’s death in a letter from the Ministry of Justice.
“I’ll probably frame the letter and hang it up,” he said.
“It might sound crude but that’s how I feel – I want everyone to know the bastard is gone. Our family was always worried he would try to take revenge on us – so it’s a relief he’ll never come out.
“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.”
Dennis, who now lives in Sutton Coldfield, was at the pub with friends the night evil Astley struck.
He had left his children with a babysitter, but when they had gone home, Astley sneaked into their Clapton Grove home in Kingstanding and snatched little Denise.
Her battered body was found in the back of a car in Sparkhill two days later. Astley was sentenced to life imprisonment after confessing to murdering the toddler at Birmingham Crown Court in October 1983.
A year before Denise’s murder the family was struck by tragedy when they were involved in a car crash on the way home from their first holiday in Rhyl, which killed Dennis’s first wife Patricia.
Denise, then aged just one, broke her legs.
“My little baby survived a car crash a year before, she broke her legs and my wife died in it, then one year later he murdered her,” Dennis added.
“Even 40 years later, we still look at the old newspaper cuttings and pictures of Denise – we visited her grave just days ago. She was a lovely little girl – that pain and heartbreak never leaves you. All people who do this to children, beyond doubt, should do life – they should never be let out.”
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.
He had previously refused to engage with parole services because he believes, “those who have committed murder cannot be healed”.
He was denied parole after a hearing in 2022.
In a statement the Ministry of Justice said: “Prisoner Robert Astley died on 27 December at HMP Norwich.
“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”