Victim threatened in home invasion

CHRISTCHURCH: An 83yearold greatgrandfather feared for his life as a methaddict stormed into his Christchurch home and screamed, ‘‘I am going to stab you, you ******* ’’.

For the past three decades, John McCammon and his 81yearold wife Colleen had lived in their heritage Papanui home, enjoying their retirements in a closeknit community.

Over the same period, Maera Elizabeth Todd (39) was growing up surrounded by violence, poverty and drug addiction, and racking up 48 criminal convictions over nearly 30 years of offending.

The two worlds collided brutally on August 13 this year when Mr McCammon was at home while his wife was out shopping.

Todd and another woman, who has admitted a robbery charge and will be sentenced in January, knocked on the McCammons’ door to ask for directions, but really they were scoping the property, the Christchurch District Court heard yesterday.

Later, Todd and her accomplice burst inside when Mr McCammon answered, and demanded money.

One woman rummaged through bedroom drawers while Todd pushed the partiallysighted Mr McCammon to the ground and pinned him to the floor with her leg. A silver watch was taken from his pocket.

Mr McCammon pleaded with Todd, saying he had no money.

When he screamed for help, Todd placed a cushion over his face.

She then grabbed a pair of his gardening secateurs and held them in front of his face, saying ‘‘I’m going to stab you, you ******* .’’

The attackers were disturbed when Mrs McCammon returned home.

As she opened the front door, Todd shoved her from the top step and she landed on her back on a concrete path.

But with the raid going wrong — and a neighbour hearing the commotion ringing the police — the pair fled in a car.

They were stopped nearby by police who caught them with stolen items including a cellphone, wallet and watch.

Todd earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.

The two victims were hospitalised but not seriously injured.

Judge Jane Farish told Todd she should be ‘‘ashamed and appalled’’ at her offending.

She sentenced her to seven years and four months in jail, with a requirement to serve at least half of that period of imprisonment.

Outside court, son Chris McCammon said he was disappointed by the sentence.

‘‘For Mum and Dad, I feel cheated for them,’’ he said. — NZME