Junkie who killed Bristol granny back in jail for burglary

A junkie jailed for killing an 86-year-old Bristol grandmother who died shortly after he mugged her has been sent back to prison for burglary.

In September 2002 Quanito Chudley robbed pensioner Joyce Bryant of her handbag, which contained just £5, to feed his heroin addiction.

Mrs Bryant fell and broke her hip during the robbery in Kingsdown and died in hospital days later.

Chudley, then aged 21 and living in Bradley Stoke, was found guilty of robbery and manslaughter. His co-defendant Sara Drew, 19, admitted robbery and manslaughter at the pair's trial in August 2003.

While Chudley received six-and-a-half years jail – reduced by a year on appeal – Drew was handed five years.

Yesterday Chudley, now 27 and homeless, admitted entering a Cotham home in June and stealing computer equipment worth £2,000.

Imposing a 16-month prison term, Judge Richard Bromilow told him the offence was so serious it warranted immediate custody.

William Hunter, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Peter Juul was at home in Cotham Lawn Road when someone got in through a partially-open window overnight and stole a personal and laptop computer.

A scene of crime officer picked up Chudley's fingerprints at the point of entry and he was arrested the next day, the court heard.

Mr Hunter said: "When interviewed he said that during the early hours he had been walking about the streets when he bumped into a mate he owed money to. He said he and the other person climbed through a window but he stole nothing."

As well as manslaughter and robbery Chudley's extensive list of previous offences included convictions for dishonesty, theft, battery and causing criminal damage.

Julie Phillips, defending, told the court her client was "institutionalised", having spent his early years incarcerated.

She said: "He says he does not know himself without any form of illegal substance in his body when he is out in society.

"He started taking drugs aged 11. That led to his first conviction at 14. After that he had no formal schooling and lived in units and homes to curb his behaviour which didn't work.

"He carried on using drugs. He carried on offending.

"Aged 16 he had his first taste of a custodial environment and he offended up until 2003 to support his drug habit."

Miss Phillips, who asked that Chudley receive drug treatment, said he could get drug-free in prison but relapsed on the outside without support.

She said Chudley had contacted the Criminal Justice Intervention Team and they referred him to the Integrated Offender Management Unit for help.

She told the court: "His fears that staying in St Pauls with nowhere to live would simply lead him back into prison proved completely right."