Ex-legionnaire who strangled pensioner had attacked before
PREVIOUS COURT APPEARANCE WAS DOWNGRADED TO AFFRAY
A man who strangled a great grandmother to death for no reason had avoided jail for hitting an elderly man over the head with an axe handle, it has been revealed.
Chase Kelly was found by officers cowering in nearby bushes following his brutal attack on 84-year-old Mildred Whitmore in Nuneaton in June last year, with the 31-year-old admitting the crime last week.
But the former French Foreign Legionnaire may never have had the chance to commit the offence at all after another unprovoked attack in Hinckley 11 months earlier.
Kelly, who is said to be tormented by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), had at first raised no concerns from anyone after he wandered into the Hinckley Toolbox hardware shop, in the town centre, on May 26, 2020.
However, as an elderly man approached the counter to pay for his purchases, Kelly was seen by staff grabbing a pick-axe handle before smashing it down on his head.
The attack caused a significant injury that required stitches.
After hitting the elderly man, a now “agitated” Kelly, armed with a hand axe from the shelves, began moving towards the shopkeeper. Kelly then proceeded to yell at other customers to get out of his way.
He left the scene but was arrested by officers four days later.
At Leicester Crown Court on charges of serious assault, it was heard that Kelly’s victim had refused to press charges, and the case was downgraded to a charge of affray – a move that limited the sentencing options.
Said to be of previous good character, Kelly’s attack is alleged to have happened because he was tipped over the edge by nightmare visions of his military career – visions which had previously seen him diagnosed with PTSD.
Paul Tubb, representing Kelly, said his client had struggled ever since leaving the frontline.
He said Kelly, pictured, had served in the South African Defence Force between 2003 and 2008, including serving in Angola and on peace keeping missions in Chad, encountering some “unpleasant experiences.”
Between 2011 and 2016, he was in the French Foreign Legion and awarded three medals for various
missions. He moved to the UK and hoped to join the Army, but did not qualify due to not being resident for five years.
Mr Tubb said: “His mental health suffered as he struggled with the change of lifestyle during a difficult transitional period.
“He was unable to accept he had an illness.” In February last year, Judge Timothy Spencer QC handed Kelly a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years.
In a now chilling exchange, Judge Spencer said: “I accept your memory of what happened is very limited and you’ve expressed a determination to sort your life out.
“It is your first offending and better be your last. It’s unfortunate to have met in these circumstances – we’d better not meet again.”
Kelly replied: “Yes, thank you, Your Honour.”
However, on June 1 last year, Kelly broke into the home of Mildred, before strangling her and leaving her body on the floor.
Officers from Warwickshire Police discovered him hiding in bushes outside a nearby school hours later.
He had cuts and bruises to his arms and legs and was arrested on suspicion of murder.
In court last week, Kelly admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and also pleaded guilty to a separate assault on a man in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, in November 2020.
Kelly will be sentenced for later this month.