A pensioner described the attackers to the police hours before her death | UK News

An 82-year-old woman described her attackers to police hours before her death, sparking a murder investigation.

Joy Middleditch told officers masked men burst into her home, threw her to the ground, then stole her purse before leaving her on the floor until she was found by relatives on the following day.

Pakefield Pensioner, Suffolkdied in hospital on Monday, with police describing the attack on her as “cowardly and callous”.

The property was still sealed off from the street by blue and white police tape on Wednesday and an officer in a white forensic suit worked inside the house.

A uniformed officer stood outside next to a marked car, and floral tributes were piled on the lawn, with one card addressed “To Joy’s family” and another saying “From someone who cares about X”.

Sarsfield Donohue, Acting Superintendent (East Area) of Suffolk Police, said the only description of the suspects came from Ms Middleditch herself.

He said it is believed she was attacked between the evening of Friday March 24 and the early hours of Saturday March 25.

Officers were called to her home on Grayson Avenue around 2pm on Saturday after family members found her lying on the ground, Mr Donohue said.

He said she was found ‘conscious and breathing’ but was in ‘serious condition’ and was taken to James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.

She died there in the early hours of Monday.

“Two masked men forced their way into her home”

Mr Donohue said a post-mortem examination was carried out on Monday ‘but the exact cause of death has not yet been determined so that awaits further testing’.

“When we first spoke to her at the scene, before she was taken to hospital, it was reported that she heard a noise at the door,” the officer said.

“At that time, when she went to investigate, what she described as two masked men broke into her home.

“She was knocked to the ground.

“At some point during this incident, a handbag was stolen from the premises and then she was left on the premises until found by her family the following day.”

He said the purse that was stolen was found “a short distance from Nelson Road”.

Mr Donohue said the incident was ‘a truly cowardly and callous attack on what was an elderly and vulnerable woman in her own home’.

In a statement, her family said: “Joy was a strong and determined character who loved life and her dog.

“He was a loving person who was unfortunately taken from us too soon.

“As a family, we would like to thank the police and the community for all their help and support.”