Man who 'wanted to hurt someone' jailed for kicking woman stranger to death

A teenager who kicked a stranger to death because he "wanted to hurt someone" after a row with his girlfriend was convicted of murder and jailed for at least 16 years today.

Ryan Backhouse, led 24-year-old Toni Rudman to a deserted industrial estate and subjected her to a "sustained and brutal attack".

Backhouse, 19, was in a drunken rage having been thrown out of his girlfriend's house in Plumstead.

CCTV footage captured him landing a "flying kick" to Miss Rudman's head as she lay on the ground.

Her bloodied body was found on the West Thamesmead industrial estate on August 7 last year after a security guard raised the alarm, a jury at Woolwich crown court heard.

Backhouse was captured a short distance away, covered in blood. He told police: "I was hurting so I wanted to hurt someone. I've never seen her before. My girlfriend hurt me, so I have hurt someone. I hit her, punched her and kicked her."

Footage played to the court showed the pair walking along before the defendant launched what the prosecution called "a sustained and brutal attack".

Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said: "With his hands and his feet he murdered a complete stranger."

The attack was witnessed by Robert McDonald, a security guard, who called police.

The victim's face was swollen, cut and covered in blood, as was the ground she lay on, the court heard.

Miss Rudman, 24, was pronounced dead at 9.02pm that day.

A post-mortem examination showed she suffered multiple injuries but died from blunt force trauma to her head and neck.

Backhouse admitted manslaughter but denied murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Judge Byers told Backhouse he must serve a minimum of 16 years of his 25-year jail term.