Just 18 months for blackmail thugs who left pensioner dead

Roger Day, a 67-year-old "quiet and shy" bachelor, had been the victim of a long-running blackmail campaign by 17-year-old Steven Ward's girlfriend.

For more than two years, Katherine Chainey, also 17, demanded and received more than £18,000 from Mr Day - telling him a series of lies and hard luck stories to make him give her the cash.

But in January, when Mr Day stood up to the girl and refused to hand over a further £1,300, Ward attacked him outside his home in Yeovil.

The pensioner was punched once and fell to the ground, cracking his head on a concrete driveway. He died the following day after suffering "catastrophic brain injuries" and lapsing into a coma.

Ward, who admitted manslaughter, was given an 18-month term in youth custody, as was Chainey, who admitted four counts of blackmail.

But both sentences came under attack for their leniency. Peter Smyth, of the Police Federation which represents rank-and-file officers, said: "In all cases where a victim meets death through violent means the sentence should reflect the public's outrage.

"And that sentence should be a considerable sentence - put simply we would say 18 months is just not enough."

John Cruddas, a former Yeovil Mayor and Liberal Democrat councillor, added: "Eighteen months is an insult for a man's life. The sentence should have been years - not months. It makes a mockery of the justice system."

Bristol Crown Court heard how Chainey began receiving "innocent gifts" of money from Mr Day some years ago when her father lived next door to the pensioner.

At the time she was living in a children's home and her father opposed the handouts she received from the retired engineer when she visited.

Alan Large, prosecuting, told the court that Chainey began pestering Mr Day for money and that her demands swiftly "developed into a determined pattern of avaricious behaviour".

She repeatedly returned to Mr Day for money "because he was a soft touch", it was said.

Lying about needing a private operation or claiming she would have to live "on the streets", she was asking for hundreds of pounds from Mr Day "three or four times a week".

In reality, the teenagers were spending the cash on DVDs, computer games and an expensive flatscreen plasma television. Mr Large said as the demands increased Mr Day decided that he would not give Chainey more cash.

Chainey then began blackmailing him by threatening to tell both the police and her father about him giving her the money.

Mr Day was terrified that the girl's father would attack him if he found out about their friendship.

The court heard that Ward was a "high achiever" at school who had been in the Scouts and Army cadets.

Conversely, Chainey had been in care and suffered a "difficult childhood".

She was Ward's first girlfriend and the teenager of previous good character had become besotted by her.

Sentencing, Judge Charles Gray told Ward: "Your punch was responsible for the death of an old man who had done you no harm and was clearly vulnerable."

Turning to Chainey he said: "Your treatment of this elderly and vulnerable man was unforgivable.

"You made a misery of what turned out to be the last years of his life."

Ward's father Peter said outside the court: "We cannot condone Steven's actions. My sorrow goes out to Mr Day's family.

"We had no idea this was going on. If I had I would have reported it to the police myself."