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Derby Telegraph
December 10, 2013
A FRAIL pensioner who tried to chase a burglar with her walking stick after waking to find him in her room has been awarded £1,500 for her “pluck and courage”.
Margaret Woodward’s terrifying experience was captured on CCTV, which police had installed after the 67-year-old was the target of a series of burglaries.
The footage showed 51-year-old Patrick Reid creeping around Ms Woodward’s living room as she slept in an armchair. She was woken by the flat alarm as Reid tried to leave the property in Long Eaton.
Prosecutor Sarah Allen said: “She saw a figure in dark clothing who had a hood over him. He moved towards her mobility scooter and she quickly picked up her walking stick and followed him with that.”
Reid, who was arrested after being identified from the footage, admitted the offence on April 7, in which he stole £66, as well as burgling her flat on March 29. The court heard that, after the first burglary, Ms Woodward had woken to find £53 missing from her purse, which she had left under a cushion.
In a victim impact statement, Ms Woodward said: “I still feel very shaky, like I want to be sick. I feel like I have been abused by him. Knowing someone has been in and out of your bedroom window traumatises me.
“I don’t feel like it’s all mine any more. My privacy has all gone.”
Her statement concluded: “My main concern from now on is just to keep myself alive, just to keep going.”
Ms Woodward’s home has been burgled five times in the past 18 months.
Jailing Reid for four years and eight months, Judge John Gosling said: “This was a wicked and calculated series of offending.
“You were brazen and determined. What makes this really bad is you went back a second time as you were not content with the small pickings you got on the first visit. And it was obvious to you when you set foot in the flat that it was a woman alone and of limited mobility.”
To Ms Woodward, Judge Gosling said: “It’s been a very difficult experience for you, not just the burglaries but to wait for this day. I cannot turn the clock back and undo the harm, I’m sorry to say. And no amount of money can compensate you.”
But he said he would award her £1,500 from the High Sheriff’s fund for her “pluck and courage”.
David Webster, for Reid, of Nuthall Road, Nottingham, said: “This man never meant her any harm. Of course, he took the chance of causing significant psychological harm but says he would never have laid a finger on her.”
Following the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Gill Hibbert said: “We are overwhelmed with how brave she has been. She has come to every court appearance and has shown immense bravery to face him.”
