Jailed for 'sickening' attack
An alcoholic young woman who beat her uncle to death for his unemployment money has been jailed, along with her 50-year-old boyfriend.
Rachael Bradley, aged 21, and her partner Geoffrey Churchill brutally beat 52-year-old Robert Bradley to death at his home in Wolverley Crescent, Rowley Regis, in a "sickening and gratuitous" attack in April 2006.
Between them they must now serve a total of at least 28 years in jail before being considered for parole after they were sentenced yesterday.
The couple, from Lancaster Road, Rowley Regis, were unanimously convicted of murder and a separate assault by a jury in April.
They were sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Robert Juckes QC, prosecuting, said the pair of alcoholics had run out of money in April 2006 and knew that Rachael's uncle had some from his benefits.
"She had been living with her uncle for two years before she left to live with her partner. She said she had suffered abuse at his hands when she was 15 and 16 but she remained a visitor of his and he continued to support her."
Judge Frank Chapman said: "The fact that the allegations of abuse were made does not make them true."
He described how they visited their victim at 9pm because they had run out of money and he gave them £5, which they used to buy cider.
They drank it and returned in the early hours when they beat him to death. They also looked in the flat for money but did not find cash he had hidden in his sock which was later discovered by police.
Speaking to the couple, Judge Chapman said: "The victim was a sick man with heart problems. He was punched and kicked at least 12 times in the head and six times in the body.
"I am prepared to say this was not pre-mediated but the degree of violence was sickening and gratuitous."
He said Bradley's adult life was spent moving from one abusive partner to another. He called her a "damaged young woman" and said she must serve at least 13 years in prison and Churchill at least 15.
