Latest news with #JoyMiddleditch
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Telegraph
Pensioner, 82, who died after burglary by teenagers cried out for ‘Mummy'
An 82-year-old pensioner who died after being burgled by a pair of masked teenage boys was left crying out for her 'Mummy', a court heard. Joy Middleditch, a great-grandmother, was found on her kitchen floor with broken ribs in Pakefield, Suffolk, 12 hours after the burglary in March 2023. She died in hospital two days after a 'planned' robbery by two boys, aged 14 and 15, who wore 'intimidating masks' and had smoked cannabis. The boys, who are now 16 and 17 but cannot be named for legal reasons, were sentenced to two years in a youth detention centre on Friday. Sentencing the pair, District Judge Kenneth Sheraton said Middleditch was found with five broken ribs and bruising. A trial at Great Yarmouth magistrates' court heard last month that she was 'calling for her mother' during the burglary on March 25 2023. The two boys had shared a joint of cannabis before walking two miles to Middleditch's bungalow. Hanna Llewelyn-Waters, prosecuting, told the previous hearing that they had made a 'beeline' for her address and that it was 'inconceivable that they did not know the house was lived in by an elderly person'. The court heard they climbed over a gate to the rear of the bungalow and opened the back door. In a police interview, the older boy claimed he was merely following his friend, saying he 'followed to see what he was doing'. 'He opened the door, and there was a dog growling,' he said. 'It was only a little thing, so he just ran in. She was inside, and he pushed her into the table. 'He then grabbed her bag and ran back out. I shut the door and followed him. She was screaming, 'Get out of my house' and 'Mummy'.' The boy added that Middleditch had told him to shut the door so her dog would not run away. Ms Llewelyn-Waters said his claims of non-involvement were 'nonsense' and that the pair had 'acted together', with the younger boy not giving evidence because 'he has no account to give that will stand up to scrutiny'. The boys were both convicted of burglary after the trial. Judge Sheraton told the sentencing hearing that Middleditch was only found 12 hours later. 'I have been sitting in magistrates' courts for many years, and I have no hesitation in saying this is one of the nastiest cases I have seen,' he said. The judge added: 'Both boys would have seen the mobility frame by the back door and both boys would have been aware that this was an elderly lady. 'Both boys left the victim on the floor, knowing she had limited mobility, and she had been found some 12 hours later by her son and daughter-in-law after they could not get an answer on the phone.' When the sentencing was announced, the mothers of both boys burst into tears. The older defendant asked if he could say goodbye to his mother, but his request was denied. Following the hearing in April which saw the boys found guilty of robbery, the victim's family issued a statement which said: 'The network of persons affected by this does not just end with us. 'Joy was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister to several siblings, an aunt and a close friend to many. 'She was worth more than to be a victim of cruel, thoughtless criminals.'
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
Teenagers sentenced for burglary after Pakefield gran dies
Two teenage boys who broke into the house of a pensioner who died two days later have been pair, now aged 16 and 17, were originally arrested on suspicion of the murder of Joy Middleditch, 82, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in were charged instead with robbery and burglary and were found guilty after a three-day hearing at Great Yarmouth Youth Court, Norfolk, in the same court, they were sentenced to a two-year immediate detention order in a young offender institution. Suffolk Police were called on the afternoon of 25 March 2023 to Grayson Avenue after reports that an older woman had been found on the floor of her home following a suspected robbery in the early hours of the found a handbag containing a purse had been removed from the Middleditch had been conscious and taken to James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, for treatment, but died two days a previous tribute to Ms Middleditch, her family thanked Suffolk Police for their support."The network of persons affected by this does not just end with us," they said. "Joy was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister to several siblings, an aunt and a close friend to many. "She was worth more than to be a victim of cruel, thoughtless criminals." Det Con Debra Bates said after the hearing said it had been an "extremely difficult time" for Ms Middleditch's family. "I would again like to thank Joy's family, who have been extremely supportive of Suffolk Constabulary and patient throughout this investigation," the officer said."This has been an extremely difficult time for them, and hopefully this sentence can bring them some closure." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Daily Record
Two boys left great-gran crying on floor for her mum - days later she died
Joy Middleditch, 82, died days later in hospital in 'one of the nastiest cases' a judge has ever seen. Two teenagers left a great grandmother lying on the floor of her home with broken ribs and crying out for her mother following a robbery. Joy Middleditch, 82, died days later in hospital in 'one of the nastiest cases' a judge has ever seen. The court heard the pensioner was terrified and was "calling for her mum" after shouting for the boys - who were aged just 14 and 15 wearing "intimidating masks" to "instil fear" into their victim - to leave her home. The mother of three was taken to hospital on March 25, 2023, where she died two days later. As reported by the Mirror, the pair were today each sentenced to two years in youth detention at Great Yarmouth Youth Court. District Judge Kenneth Sheraton said: "I have been sitting in magistrates' courts for many years, and I have no hesitation in saying this is one of the nastiest cases I have seen." The judge said that Ms Middleditch was found with five broken ribs and bodily bruising. The boys, who can not be named for legal reasons and are now aged 17 and 16, went on trial at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court last month. Prosecutor Hanna Llewelyn-Waters said they had "acted together" and "planned" to commit robbery. The trial heard there were text messages after the robbery, where the younger defendant had texted his girlfriend saying he needed to "get rid of his clothes", and after hearing of Ms Middleditch's death he texted her that he "will see her in 20 years" and "would get rid of his phone". The pair were captured on CCTV moments before entering the rear of Ms Middlemitch's home after they set a car alarm off nearby. The prosecutor said they then headed to the elderly woman's home. She added that they passed over homes and it was "inconceivable that they did not know the house was lived in by an elderly person". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. District Judge Kenneth Sheraton heard evidence from the older defendant who claimed he was "just following his friend". His police interview was read to the court. He said: "I followed to see what he was doing when he went around the back door to open it and went in. He opened the door, and there was a dog growling. It was only a little thing, so he just ran in. "She was inside, and he pushed her into the table. He then grabbed her bag and ran back out. I shut the door and followed him. She was screaming 'Get out of my house' and 'Mummy'." He told police he shut the door as he didn't want her dog to run away. He claimed he had gone to his younger friend's home that day to "get stoned" and they went for a walk after sharing a spliff. Police were called just after 1.50pm to reports that a woman had been found following a suspected robbery, the incident having happened during the early hours of the same day. It was found following the incident that a handbag containing a purse from within the property had been taken. The younger boy had pleaded guilty to burglary but denied robbery. The older boy pleaded not guilty to both charges. The were both found guilty of both offences. Following their conviction last month, detective constable Debra Bates said: 'This must have been a very traumatic incident for Mrs Middleditch. She was a vulnerable, elderly woman who was robbed of her possessions in the middle of the night by these two individuals, for relatively little financial gain. 'I would like to thank Joy's family who have been extremely supportive of Suffolk Constabulary and patient throughout this investigation in what has been an incredibly difficult couple of years for them.' Before the teenagers were caught back in March 2023, Ms Middleditch's family told the Mirror they feared the 'monsters' responsible will strike again unless they were found. As a manhunt was launched the victim's great niece, Rebekka Arnold, then 30, appealed for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward, saying: 'It's terrifying that these people are still out there.' She said: 'This was my great aunt. If you are from the Pakefield/Lowestoft area ad have any information whatsoever on the people that did this or were in the area around the time of the incident you may have dashcam footage that could be useful, please contact Suffolk Police as soon as possible to bring these horrible scumbags to justice.' She added: 'Just hoping somebody will have the information to help catch them before they do this to somebody else, the fact they're still out there is really worrying.' In another emotional Facebook post she said: 'How could anyone ever sleep at night knowing they did this to an elderly lady? Makes me sick, hopefully someone will be able to find something that leads to finding these monsters.' Mrs Middleditch's niece, Mandy Leadbitter, said her aunt was not wealthy and would not have had much money, adding: 'They probably just took basic things - her purse, which probably only had her pension money.'
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Masked teenage burglars, 16 and 17, left great-grandmother, 82, lying on the floor of her home crying out for 'mummy' after heartless robbery - before she died two days later
Two masked teenagers, who callously robbed a great-grandmother in her own home before leaving her alone for hours as she lay injured on the floor and crying out for 'mummy', have been locked up for two years in a youth detention centre. Joy Middleditch, 82, died just days after she was discovered seriously injured inside her bungalow in Pakefield, Suffolk, by her family, having been left on the floor for 12 hours after she was burgled and robbed. She was conscious and breathing, but found to have five broken ribs and bruising before dying in James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth on March 27, 2023. Following the incident, it was found that her handbag, which contained a purse, had been removed from her bungalow. The boys, now aged 17 and 16, were today sentenced to two years in a youth detention centre by District Judge Kenneth Sheraton. He said: 'I have been sitting in magistrates' courts for many years, and I have no hesitation in saying this is one of the nastiest cases I have seen.' The judge: 'Both boys would have seen the mobility frame by the back door and both boys would have been aware that this was an elderly lady. 'Both boys left the victim on the floor, knowing she had limited mobility, and she had been found some 12 hours later by her son and daughter-in-law after they could not get an answer on the phone.' In addition to the two-year custodial sentence, the pair were ordered to pay a £41 court fee. Each was convicted of burglary offences. A trial held at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court last month heard that the 'terrified' Ms Middleditch was 'calling for her mother' on March 25, 2023. She had yelled for the boys to leave her home as they left her on the floor, where she remained until she was discovered by her concerned family. Prosecutor Hanna Llewelyn-Waters said that the pair, who can not be named for legal reasons, were wearing 'intimidating masks' to 'instill fear' into their victim. She argued that both defendants, then 14 and 15, 'acted together' and had 'planned' to commit robbery, calling the elder boy's evidence 'nonsense'. The younger boy refused to give evidence because, Ms Llewelyn-Waters said, 'he has no account to give that will stand up to scrutiny'. Ms Llewelyn-Waters referenced text messages after the robbery, where the younger defendant had texted his girlfriend saying he needed to 'get rid of his clothes'. The court was told he also texted his girlfriend, after learning that Ms Middleditch had died, saying that he 'will see her in 20 years' and that he 'would get rid of his phone'. The prosecutor cited how moments before they entered the rear of Ms Middleditch's property, they had likely set a car alarm off on Foxglove Close, because CCTV captured them running at the moment it sounded. Shortly after, Ms Llewelyn-Waters said the boys then made a 'beeline' to Grayson Avenue, where Mrs Middleditch lived. The court heard how the pair had missed many homes there before stopping at 10 Grayson Avenue. She said, considering the houses they walked past and where they stopped, it was 'inconceivable that they did not know the house was lived in by an elderly person'. When they arrived at the home, they stopped for around a minute and then tried the gate to the rear of the property before climbing over it. During the trial, District Judge Kenneth Sheraton heard evidence from the older defendant who claimed he was 'just following his friend'. An extract from a police interview at the time of his arrest said: 'I followed to see what he was doing when he went around the back door to open it and went in. 'He opened the door, and there was a dog growling. It was only a little thing, so he just ran in. 'She was inside, and he pushed her into the table. He then grabbed her bag and ran back out. I shut the door and followed him. 'She was screaming, 'Get out of my house' and 'Mummy. ' The 17-year-old defendant added that the victim asked him to shut the door because she didn't want her dog to run away. The older boy had gone to his friend's house in the early hours of that morning in question to 'get stoned,' and the boys shared a spliff before 'going for a walk'. The court heard that the boys, later that morning, had travelled nearly two miles on foot when they arrived at Ms Middleditch's home. When the sentencing was announced, the mothers of both boys burst into tears. The older defendant asked if he could say goodbye to his mother, but his request was denied. Following the hearing in April which saw the boys found guilty of robbery, the family of Ms Middleditch issued a statement which said: 'The network of persons affected by this does not just end with us. 'Joy was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister to several siblings, an aunt and a close friend to many. 'She was worth more than to be a victim of cruel, thoughtless criminals.'
