92-year-old man jailed for life for crime committed in 1967
A 92-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for the rape and murder of a woman in Bristol more than five decades ago.
Mr Justice Sweeting sentenced Ryland Headley to spend the rest of his life behind bars for the killing of Louisa Dunne in 1967 at her home.
This case is believed to be the oldest cold case solved by modern English policing, and Headley is thought to be the oldest person convicted of murder in the UK.
Following the murder of Dunne, who lived alone in Bristol’s Easton area, Headley moved away from southwest England with his family, spending time in London before settling in Ipswich, Suffolk.
In 1977, Headley raped two elderly women, aged 79 and 84, in Ipswich. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment but served only about two years after an appeal reduced his sentence, citing sexual frustration from his marriage.
The judge described Headley as cruel and pitiless, noting that Dunne endured significant pain and fear during the attack and that Headley showed no remorse.
The diligent efforts of police, forensic experts, and the Crown Prosecution Service ultimately led to Headley’s arrest decades later.
The judge acknowledged the “intergenerational” impact of the crime as a key aggravating factor in sentencing.
Prosecutor Anna Vigars KC noted that sentencing guidelines have changed since the 1960s and that a minimum term of about 20 years was appropriate for such a murder at that time.
Headley’s lawyer asked the court to consider his client’s age and good behavior since his release for the Ipswich rapes.
In 2023, cold case detectives used DNA evidence from Dunne’s clothing to identify Headley, whose profile was on the national database due to a 2012 arrest.
Dunne’s granddaughter, Mary Dainton, spoke about the lasting emotional toll the crime had on the family and their struggle with stigma and loss.
She expressed sadness that many who loved Dunne were no longer alive to witness justice being served.
Dainton described the crime’s lasting impact on her family and the deep emotional scars left behind.
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@itvnewsA 92-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering a Bristol pensioner almost six decades ago. This was the moment he was arrested. #itvnews #bristol #ipswich
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