Pair Jailed for Robbing Elderly People

    

Two people who subjected elderly Bedfordshire residents to terrifying ordeals in their own homes have been jailed.

James Piggott, age 23, of Wesley Road, Sandy, received seven years and six months for his part of the two robberies, while Jade Williamson, 27, of Pembroke House, London Road, Biggleswade received five years after both pleaded guilty to the crimes at Luton Crown Court last week.   

 

The pair knocked at the door of an 80 year old disabled woman on December 23 last year, saying their car had run out of petrol near her home in Potton. Despite the fact it was 2.45am, the woman tried to help by letting them in to use her phone. But the story was a scam to get her to open the door and once inside, Williamson made her sit down and took her walking frame away, pinning her to the sofa and ripping the phone from the wall so she could not call the police.

 

Meanwhile Piggott searched the woman’s home and stole about £190 in cash, jewellery and a tin containing old coins. The pair then left, leaving the woman bleeding and with extensive bruising to her hands. Luckily she was able to find a mobile phone in her handbag and summon help.

 

At about 10.45am the same day, Piggott and Williamson arrived at a house in Bedford Road, Moggerhanger, the home of a married couple in their 80s. Williamson knocked on the door and as the husband approached the door to open it, a man jumped on his back.

 

Piggott had evidently broken in via a front window and demanded money from the man, grabbing an ornamental shotgun from its display place on the wall and threatening the man with it.

 

Fearing he was going to be hit, the man handed over £100 which was in a drawer but said that was all he had. His mobile phone was also stolen. Luckily though, he was then able to run up the stairs and shout to his wife to call the police.

 

Piggott and Williamson left the house and made off in a silver Volvo. Ten minutes later numerous calls were made to the police from members of the public who had witnessed the couple crash into another car on the A1 southbound at Biggleswade. Abandoning the car, the pair ran away and into Royal Oak Close in Biggleswade and made their way into Fairlands.

 

Officers were soon on the scene and helped by members of the public, some of whom had followed the criminals after the road crash, located them at a house in Fairlands. Piggott was found hiding in an airing cupboard, while Williamson was in the lounge, claiming she had just been dropped off there. In the Volvo, officers later found bolt croppers, a hammer, and the phone belonging to the man from Moggerhanger. 

 

“These were nasty, despicable offences on elderly people and I am happy with the sentences Piggott and Williamson received,” said Det Con Jason Wheeler, of Bedford CID. “I hope the victims can put closure on the ordeals they had to go through in their own homes. The sentences they have received sends the message out that in this county we investigate these sorts of offences until we catch the offenders.

 

“Piggott is a repeat and prolific offender and Williamson is just as guilty as he was. A lot of work went into the case from the investigation side to be sure there was sufficient evidence to make these two plead guilty to both offences and put them behind bars. I also want to thank all the members of the public who got involved too, we could not have reached such a successful conclusion without their help.”