Killer escaped secure unit and 'brutally attacked' gran with golfing umbrella in own home

A man escaped from a secure unit to kill a 'caring and loved' grandmother with a golfing umbrella during a burglary at her home, Bristol Crown Court heard.

David Parish, 38, walked out of the hospital unit after a door was left open and brutally attacked local churchwarden Beryl Purdy, 86, with the brolly as she tried to defend herself.

Footage above shows the moment when police arrested Parish, after he had carried out the fatal attack on the woman, who was unknown to her killer.

The victim - known as Bez - died at her home in Broomfield, near Bridgwater, Somerset, on Monday 27 March 2023

The defendant had denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January last year by reason of diminished responsibility, which was accepted by the crown.

‘Defenceless’ woman killed in home

Sentencing him at Bristol Crown Court to six years in prison today, (Fri) Honorable Mr Justice Saini, told him: "You killed Beryl Purdy, having attacked her in her own home with a large golfing umbrella.

"She was not known to you, and at the time you killed her you had been able to walk out of a secure hospital unit where you had been detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983."

‘Unimaginable’ loss

The judge aplogised for the delay in sentencing, which was due to further medical reports concerning the defendant's mental health.

He added: "I have had read to me the moving victim personal statements from Mrs Purdy’s husband of 63 years, Peter. He has suffered the loss of his lifetime partner and best friend, known to him and her friends as Bez.

"He is reminded of the incident every time he goes into the room where she was found. This leaves him with anger and sadness and more recently, loneliness, to contend with every day.

"His loss is unimaginable. Nick, their son, describes how distressing it was to lose his mother because a door was left unlocked and a man who should have been detained was able to enter his parents’ home and kill his mother in such a violent manner.

The court heard after concern was raised about his behaviour, a mental health assessment team attended his home and took him into you to the Rydon Ward in Wellsprings hospital in Taunton.

Door at ‘secure unit’ left unlocked

During a visit from his parents the following day, he told them he was going to use the toilet but didn't return.

The judge added: "You did not return and they raised the alarm with staff on reception.

"The staff apologised, telling your family that the front door to the unit should have been locked. They said that the police had been alerted to the disappearance, and that you had been reported as a missing person. You had been detained in the unit under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and should not have been able to leave the hospital."

The court heard that at around 5.30pm that afternoon Peter, Beryl Purdy’s husband, rang his neighbour, Douglas Wilson, to ask for help.

Mr Purdy believed at that time that Beryl was out walking the dog and reported there was a strange person in his house.

‘Strange person’ in the house

The dog then appeared without Mrs Purdy so a search party was launched,

But the search group later noticed two feet with black shoes on sticking out from behind a displaced fridge freezer.

The judge said the feet belonged to the body of Mrs Purdy, which was crumpled against the wall with a washing basket on top of her.

He added: "Mrs Purdy’s head was covered in so much blood that it was difficult to see what her actual injuries were."

‘Terrifying attack’ on ‘defenceless’ woman

A post mortem found she had died from multiple bruises and lacerations to her face and head including a significant wound to the forehead.

The cause of Mrs Purdy’s death was identified as penetrating and blunt impact injuries to the head but other injuries were consistent with her trying to defend herself.

The judge added: "The injuries were caused by you using a large golfing umbrella to beat Mrs Purdy in what must have been a terrifying attack of this elderly and defenceless woman in her own home."

‘Dearly loved’

The defendant was arrested that evening and his DNA was found on the umbrella.

The court heard this was the first time the defendant had been in trouble with the law and the judge accepted "that you have shown real remorse and have shame for what you did.

Her family led the tributes at the time describing Bez as a "dearly loved wife, mother and granny."

Parish, of no fixed address, was initially sectioned under the Mental Health Act - but was later released to face charges.

‘Caring’ church warden

In a statement released at the time of her death, Mrs Purdy's family said: "As a family, we are devastated to have lost a dearly loved wife, mother and granny.

"Bez was a caring person who would help anyone in need and was very much part of the village, being a church warden for 20 years.

"We will miss her very much and we are all struggling to understand why this happened to such a lovely person."