Violent thug who bashed elderly Brisbane woman sentenced

A violent thug previously jailed for killing an elderly woman has been sentenced to prison again for bashing an 83-year-old outsider her Brisbane home.

Derek Sinden, who now prefers to be known as Shanika, spotted Margaret Baker at Toombul Shopping Centre in January and followed her home.

In her driveway he bashed and robbed her.

"My wrist was broken it’s still out of shape, the doctor says it'd stay that way," she said.

"I get a bit of pain in it."

Sinden was sentenced to five-and-a-half years prison.

Ms Baker said it was comforting that he can’t hurt anyone else.

"I feel as if I can relax a bit now, no-one else will get hurt - like I did," Ms Baker said.

In 1999, Sinden bashed and robbed another woman, aged in her 70s.

She later died and Sinden was only released from jail last year.

"How could one person do such a thing to another person you know – that's what's been on my mind a lot," Ms Baker said.

In court, Sinden detailed a life damaged from childhood.

"I've copped a lot of abuse, I was bashed severely and molested by people who loved me," he said.

Judge Helen Bowskill described his crime as "a cowardly and callous attack".