Woman, 86, beaten with own stick in raid terror

A FRAIL 86-year-old woman was beaten with her walking stick by masked burglars in the latest example of the elderly being targeted for abuse.

The two thugs broke into her home in the early hours and left their victim, who lived alone, badly bruised and traumatised.

They stole two cars parked on her drive but police traced the pair after one used the woman’s bank card to order pizza.

Daniel Leahy, 18, of no fixed address, admitted robbery and aggravated vehicle taking and was given three years detention by Birmingham Crown Court. A 17-year-old was detained for four years after admitting robbery.

Torch

The woman was woken at 1.15am at her home in Solihull last October.

After a search, she returned to bed but the intruders, who had hidden, burst into her bedroom and shone a torch in her face.

Richard Franck, prosecuting, said: “She was petrified. They demanded the keys to two Audis which belonged to her son and granddaughter, who had gone on holiday.”

Mr Franck said the woman told them she did not know where the car keys were and picked up one of her walking sticks, which was grabbed by one of the robbers.

She was then struck and suffered bruising to her face and side.

In a statement, the woman said she now wants to move and suffers sleepless nights and flashbacks.

Stephen McCarthy, of Action on Elder Abuse, has called for offences against the elderly to be classified as a specific hate crime amid a spate of attacks.