Veteran, 87, dies days after theft by mugger

A WAR veteran died only two days after being mugged for his pension by a heartless woman who pretended to help him cross the road.

Former sailor Joseph Louden, who was 5ft 2in tall and had cataracts, had just collected £160 from his Post Office when the woman offered to walk him to a taxi.

But she took the money out of the 87-year-old’s pocket then told him it had fallen in the road. She handed him £20 before fleeing with the rest of the cash.

Yesterday his family said the Scots- born widower initially ‘ brushed off ’ the despicable crime, apparently fearing they would worry that he could no longer fend for himself. But two days later, he collapsed near the scene of the mugging and died from a suspected heart attack.

As police appealed for witnesses to trace the bogus Good Samaritan, his family said they feared the shock of being targeted might have contributed to his

‘Who would pick on an old man? ’

death. Stepdaughter Carole Beer, 70, said: ‘ He wasn’t physically attacked, but it may be that the stress of having the money stolen led to a heart attack.’

She added: ‘I just think it is disgraceful. You ask yourself, “Who would pick on an old man?” and when you see the obvious – that it is precisely because he is vulnerable – you realise what type of people you are talking about.’

Mr Louden’s family fear he was targeted because of his regular routine, which began with breakfast at his favourite pub in Barnstaple, Devon.

After finishing his meal at The Panniers last Monday, he collected his pension from the Post Office and the woman offered to help him cross the road, only to sneak the cash out of his pocket.

Taking advantage of his poor eyesight, she told him it had fallen into the road before giving him £20 and running off with the remaining £140.

Mr Louden returned to the bungalow where he lived alone, telling his family it was ‘just one of those things’.

Police have appealed f or witnesses and are checking CCTV footage.