BurglArs stEAl £400 from 101-yEAr-olD

Callous pension thief laughed when Win told him her age

A 101-year-old woman who was tricked by distraction burglars who stole £400 from her purse has urged others to be extra careful when cold callers knock at their door. Win Vine had the money stolen when the distraction burglars came to her Lincoln Road home in Northborough at about 7pm on May 24.

One man came into her home pretending to be from Anglian Water.

Mrs Vine, a previous winnerofaPrideinPeterborough award, said: “I shouldnothave taken my chain off the door.

“The man banged on the door, and said he was a workman, and they had punctured a water pipe. His friend showed me an ID card, but I could not read it.

“He asked me to empty my sink cupboard out, and stand by the running tap. I told him I was 101, and he just laughed. He wentoff, andkept coming back saying ‘you are doing a goodjob.’ Thenhewasgone.”

Mrs Vine said she only found out later that money had been taken from her purse. She said: “I had two weeks’ pension in my purse. Nothing was out of place.

“It was later in the evening whenIthought ‘I wonderif he has taken anything.’ I looked in my purse, and the money had been taken. He had even closed my purse after he had taken it. Two bank cards were also l eft there. I ’ m a survivor, and at least all they took was money. But I should have realised not to let himin. I should have left the chain on the door.”

MrsVinesaid the manthat came into her home was Eng- lish, tall, blonde and clean shaven. She described him as being in his 40s.

Police have now released a CCTV image of a man they want to trace in connection with the incident.

Anglian Water reported there had been reports of bogus callers claiming to work for them in the Peterborough area at the end of May.

Carol Aston, Community safety officer for Cambridgeshire police, said: “This type of crime has not been seen in Peterborough for some years now - there have been two more in Huntingdonshire vil- lages on 17th and 24th May.

“Nationally there has been anincrease andwatercompanies are urging families and neighbours of elderly people they are aware of to set up a password schemeandtryand encourage the elderly person to use it. Please pass this message to as many people as you can to try and get the message across to ask for IDandaskfor apasswordifanyonesaysthey are there to do work.”

Anyone with information can call Cambridgeshire police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. One of the victims of a formerscoutleader andLincolnshire policeman jailed for sexual abuse is still rebuilding his life.

Stuart Brown ( 49) has waived his legal right to anonymity to speak publicly about the horrors inflicted by John Edward Bates, the stress of the long battle to bring the case to court, and to offer a way forward for other child sex abuse victims who may be suffering in silence.

Stuart has also spoken about the new love in his life, Julie Richardson, and the wedding they plan at the end of August when Julie’s sons, Matt (29) and Dan (25), will give their mum away.

Stuart said: “The happiness I have found with Julie is unknown in my life.

“We will be happy to be surrounded by supportive friends, people who have supported us over the last couple of years – and just to have a nice, wonderful day and just make it special.”

Stuart still suffers flashbacks that take him back to painful memories of the abuse inflicted by Bates, formerly of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding, whowaslast week jailed for 20 years for sexual abuse of Stuart and three others.

He said: “After two years of intensive weeklytherapyI have been able to stand here in the witness box and give my evidence in a confident manner.

“This I believe is the beginning of the end of my 40-year sentence of prolific rape, torture and mental living hell.

“I have been taken to some extremely dark places mentally and emotionally and without the love and support of my fiancée Julie and my therapist Ian Best I may never have made it.

“I woke on the day to give evidence and my first thought was ‘freedom’ and that is how I feel – but still with a way to go to fully recover.”

A CCTV image released by police of a man they believe may be able to help with their investigation into the theft.

Victim Win Vinea former PT Pride Award winner.