Vicious Dudley thug jailed for strangling his own grandmother after bullying her out of £10,000 for drugs and takeaways
A vicious Dudley yob who strangled his grandmother after smashing up her home and forcing her to hand over £10,000 for drugs and takeaways has been jailed.
Rhys Langford subjected his grandmother to a 12-month campaign of bullying, harassment and extortion before physically attacking her in January this year.
The terrified grandmother, in her late 70s, was forced to turn to the police for help after Langford refused to leave her Brierley Hill home.
Langford, of Himley Road, at first pleaded not guilty to harassment, strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm but pleaded guilty two weeks before trial, sparing the pensioner the ordeal of giving evidence.
The 27-year-old was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court and appeared via video link from prison where he has been on remand since February.
The final confrontation in January was sparked by Langford being barred from his local pub for damaging the dartboard. He demanded his grandmother pay the pub £240 and convince the landlord to let him back in. When she refused he strangled her and slapped in the face.
Prosecuting, Maninder Chagger said: "His grandmother said he looked 'evil' as he squeezed her neck with his hands and then stepped back and slapped her. She fled her home and stayed at her daughter's house for three days.
