Bury St Edmunds robbery: Pair jailed after woman, 83, is mugged

Two men have been jailed after being found guilty of robbing an 83-year-old woman in Bury St Edmunds.

The elderly victim had withdrawn £200 from the Lake Avenue post office and was walking to a friend’s house on Tennyson Road with fish and chips when she was pushed to the ground.

During the ordeal, she sustained cuts and bruises as well as being deprived of her handbag containing cash and bank cards as well as ‘sentimental items’ – which have not been recovered.

Robert Duke, 36, of Broad Road, Bacton, and Kyle Haggerty, 27, of no fixed abode, were unanimously found guilty by a jury inside Ipswich Crown Court this afternoon (Tuesday, November 12).

Judge Emma Peters said a ‘wicked, callous and cruel’ robbery had been committed on June 27 – describing the pair as ‘beyond cowards’ and the ‘lowest of the low’.

She sentenced Duke to seven years and ten months, half of which will be served in custody.

Haggerty was sentenced to eight years and one month, half of which will also be served in custody, after he additionally admitted ‘false representation’ in using her bank cards.

It was not made clear which of the two men carried out the attack on the victim – but both were found guilty in a joint enterprise.

“It beggars’ belief that people could stoop so low."

Both men have several previous convictions, which influenced the sentencing, including a ‘troubling’ violent robbery committed by Haggerty.

Speaking to the Bury Free Press afterwards, the victim’s daughter, who did not wish to be named, said: “Justice has been served. We are very happy knowing she is now safe.”

Gavin Pottinger, prosecuting, read a statement taken on July 4 from the victim – who has not been named by the Bury Free Press in accordance with her family’s wishes.

This read: “I have always enjoyed my own independence but since the incident I have been unable to leave the house. My injuries and fear have trapped me at home.

“It beggars’ belief that people could stoop so low. I am doing my best to move on from this horrific event which should never have happened to me or anybody else.”

The story so far:

- Bury St Edmunds robbery: Robert Duke and Kyle Haggerty enter pleas

- Bury St Edmunds robbery trial: Court hears man accused made 'odd' return

- Bury St Edmunds 'robbery': Prosecutor says a 'lot of evidence' links pair on trial

- Bury St Edmunds 'robbery': Jury set to decide fate of defendants

A statement from the victim’s daughter, taken last week, added: “She still feels terrible pain which keeps her awake most nights. I think she will never feel safe to go out on her own again.”

Over the course of the trial, which began on Tuesday of last week, the court heard the victim had called out ‘no, no, no’ as she was attacked and had been left feeling ‘weak’.

She was unable to see the attacker but noticed a watch had been left at the scene – which contained the DNA of Haggerty. Prior to the incident, CCTV showed Duke standing behind the victim in the post office and phone records showed he had contacted Haggerty. Later, it was shown Haggerty had attempted to use the victim’s bank cards to make transactions.

The friend of the woman – whose Tennyson Road house she was returning to with fish and chips - said on June 29, two days after the incident, Duke had come to his doorstep. He recognised Duke from sitting outside a nearby retirement home – and said the 35-year-old had asked ‘does she live here?’ giving the impression he was ‘concerned about things’.

Mr Pottinger, prosecuting, had said the pair were ‘blaming each other’ for the attack – while neither defendant gave evidence during the trial, leaving defence statements to their counsel.

He is somebody who at a young age struggled to come to terms that he was a father

Today (November 12) Oliver Haswell, representing Haggerty, appealed for leniency in sentencing.

He said: “It is accepted this was an awful ordeal.

“My client was trying to make a difference to his life by getting employment. He has two young children, now an eight-year-old and a two-year-old.

“He is somebody who at a young age struggled to come to terms that he was a father and has made a number of mistakes – this being a substantial and catastrophic one.

“Apart from this he had seemingly turned something of a corner in his life. He has the hope of a (stronger) relationship with his children.”

Steven Dyble, representing Duke, added: “Anyone who commits themselves to the merciless robbing of an elderly citizen will know there is no sympathy, so I accept my comments are limited.

“But there is no suggestion he followed her into the post office. That encounter was by chance.

“There is some flicker of humanity in his manifestation. It was said that he had never been in the state he was seen to be in afterwards, and that is not in keeping with the idea of somebody who felt no guilt. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose by going back to the house to make an inquiry. I would invite you to see there is a genuine remorse and would appeal for a small discount for that.”

Judge Emma Peters said there was ‘nothing to prevent’ her from making a sentence towards the top of the sentencing guidelines.

“I do not know which one of you pushed her over, and which of you did which part,” the judge said.

“But we are sure that you are guilty together.

“This lady has never had that property back, but more importantly has been robbed of the independence she so valued.

“Your actions were cruel, greedy, nasty and wicked.

“You chose her because she was an easy target. To say you were cowards is more than you deserve. You are worse than cowards. You are the lowest of the low to pick on an old lady like this.

“You both thoroughly deserve to go to prison. You have several years to reflect on your conduct.

“I give my best wishes to the lady’s recovery.”