A man once dubbed ‘The Holloway Strangler’ for a

A man once dubbed ‘The Holloway Strangler’ for a series of
attacks on lone commuters in the early 1980s, struck again just
months after being released from jail.

Tony Bromwich, 26, remained free for just three months before going
back to the violent ways that had earned him a 10 year jail sentence.

On December 14 last year he donned a balaclava and attacked Mrs
Patricia O’Sullivan, 36, at gunpoint as she popped out of an Islington
pub to make a phone call.

Bromwich demanded her money but when offered the few paltry coins
she had brought to make the call, he refused to take it, said
prosecutor Miss Sallie (corr) Bennett-Jenkins.

‘There came a time when he stepped back a little way and that gave
her the opportunity to run past and make her escape into the pub to
tell her husband.

‘The police were alerted immediately and searched the area.

‘
Bromwich was seen by police along St Paul’s Road, not far from
the Canonbury pub in Canonbury Place where Mrs O’Sullivan had been
attacked.

Despite reports that he had a gun, officers bravely wrestled him to
the ground.

Only then did they discover he was unarmed.

‘He said he chucked the gun in a bin and had also disposed of a
hunting knife,’ counsel added.

‘Bromwich gave police details of where they could find the gun and
the knife.

‘
The gun proved to be a frighteningly realistic imitation.

Asked the motive for the robbery, he replied simply: ‘I needed
money.

‘
In court, he admitted attempted robbery, having an imitation
firearm with intent and having an offensive weapon.

Judge George Bathurst-Norman was told Bromwich, an apprentice print
finisher of Mulkern Road, Hornsey Rise, had been fined in 1982 for
having an offensive weapon.

Then in 1985, he admitted five charges of strangling with intent
and one of wounding with intent for a string of attacks that earned
him the title ‘The Holloway Strangler.

‘
Det Sgt Michael Toyne told the court: ‘He followed victims from
stations on the Victoria line to their homes.

‘As they were about to enter, he placed a ligature around their
neck and almost suffocated them.

He then indecently assaulted them.

‘On one occasion he hit his victim on the back of the head with a
rock.

‘
Bromwich was released from jail in September last year.

The judge adjourned sentence for further psychiatric reports after
one doctor recommended that Bromwich be detained in a mental
hospital without limit of time.

He told defence counsel: ‘You would have difficulty persuading me
otherwise.

‘I would think he clearly does need treatment.

‘
Bromwich was remanded in custody until April 3.

ENDS
MEMO: Photonews have a photo of Bromwich.

Phone 071 248 5909.

ENDS MEMO
MMMM