A MAN who strangled and assaulted a pensioner has been killed himself while awaiting sentence in Broadmoor, a court heard today.

Richard Loudwell had admitted the manslaughter of 82-year-old Joan Smyth on the grounds of diminished responsibility and had been transferred to the psychiatric hospital in January this year.

Loudwell, 58, of York Farm, Lower Twydall Lane, Gillingham, was due to be sentenced on April 27 but just two days earlier he was attacked and severely injured by a fellow inmate.

John Hillen, prosecuting at Maidstone Crown Court, said Loudwell was on a life support machine for some time and then remained in a “persistent vegetative state” in a coma until he died on June 5.

An investigation into his death is now underway and an inquest is yet to be held. Mr Hillen said a suspect had been interviewed but as yet no one had been charged.

The case was listed today simply as a matter of formality. The court was told that relatives of both Mrs Smyth and Loudwell had decided not to attend.

Mrs Smyth’s body was found at her flat in Wakely Road, Rainham, on December 2 2002. Mr Hillen said she had been strangled by either Loudwell’s arm or hands and possibly also suffocated.

“The defendant then abused her body in a way in which I do not intend to go into in public,” Mr Hillen told the court. “But, if it is any comfort to her relatives, I have spoken to a Home Office pathologist who concludes that these violations took place after death.”

Mrs Smyth had lived in Medway all her life. She married a sailor during World War II and they had two daughters. Her life was said to have revolved around her husband, her garden and the church.

However, with age, she moved from her home in Chatham to the flat in Rainham. “Living alone, she was a trusting lady who was known on her shopping trips to strike up conversations with strangers,” said Mr Hillen.

Loudwell’s aunt lived in the flat above Mrs Smyth. He lived with his elderly mother and in the early 1990s began to suffer from mental health problems and had five spells in the psychiatric ward at Medway Hospital.

He was convicted of indecent assault on a girl under 16 from 1976 to 1980, and then again in 1999 when he was sentenced to probation with the condition that he attended a sex offenders’ course.

“However, he continued to act in an unstable manner, behaving sexually,” said Mr Hillen.

For a time in 2002 Loudwell, who suffered from dementia and depression, became a recluse and stayed in bed for several months. But by the winter of that year he had started to go out again.

“On the day of the killing,” said Mr Hillen, “he got up, spoke to his mother and sister and was remonstrated for walking around the house and garden naked. He was tearful, vulgar and coarse.

“That same day Joan Smyth went out shopping and by chance in Rainham she fell into his company. He helped her with her shopping and went with her to her flat. She was never seen alive again.”

Her body was discovered later that evening after Loudwell made a 999 call and told police he had found a friend “in a bad way”. “He said she was in her 30s and when the paramedics arrived he came to the flat door naked,” said Mr Hillen. “He said she was 32.”

Loudwell then made his way in a taxi to Medway Hospital where his behaviour caused concern and the police were called.

“When told Mrs Smyth was dead he put his head in his hands and said: “Oh my God”,” added Mr Hillen. “He then said he would rather kill himself than spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Loudwell was arrested and interviewed, often swearing and making “bizarre statements”.

Having been charged with murder and remanded in custody the first of many psychiatric assessments were carried out. Loudwell was at first declared unfit to plead and then later diagnosed as suffering from an abnormality of mind as well as a high probability of brain damage.

Once fit to stand trial this was due to take place in November last year. However, there were further delays until April this year when Loudwell pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Adjourning sentence on that occasion Judge Warwick McKinnon told Loudwell he faced either a life sentence or a hospital order. But Loudwell was attacked three days later.

Speaking on his behalf, Stephen Hockman QC said Loudwell accepted responsibility for Mrs Smyth’s death “of his own free will”. And of the circumstances leading to Loudwell’s death Mr Hockman added that it was “manifestly wrong” that it should have happened.

“One can but hope that the events and the surrounding circumstances that lead to these further tragic wrongs being perpetuated will be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible will have to face up to what they are responsible for.”

At the end of the hearing Judge McKinnon ordered that the case file be marked deceased.