“Despicable” robber targeted the elderly

A robber who dragged an elderly woman to the ground and stole her purse has been jailed for more than five years.

Thomas Honeyman, 36, stole a white Jeep from a business in Fengate, Peterborough, on 10 March.

He drove the vehicle to the woman’s home in Crowland, where he claimed to be from a pest control company.

The victim said she needed to call a relative, but he pressured her into paying him £28.

When the victim returned with her purse Honeyman tried to snatch it, pulling her to the ground before running off with £1000 in cash.

The victim screamed out and a neighbour came to help, but Honeyman managed to drive off.

Following the robbery, Honeyman stole a leaf blower from a landscape gardener in a nearby street.

Two days later he targeted a man in his 80s in Eye Green. He persuaded the man to let him into his home by claiming to be there to fix the boiler, before stealing a handbag belonging to the man’s wife.

Earlier that month, on the 5 March, Honeyman stole a handbag from another elderly woman who had temporarily left it on the roof of her car in Werrington, Peterborough.

On the same day he also stole a wheelbarrow and a power tool from B&Q, in Maskew Avenue, before travelling to Crowland where he stole more tools from the back of a van.

Officers seized the stolen Jeep Honeyman was seen using during some of the offences and forensic examination linked him to it. They also found the stolen leaf blower inside.

When he was arrested on 15 March, he was wearing the same clothing as he was during some of the offences.

Honeyman, of London Street, Whittlesey, admitted robbery, two counts of burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of theft from a person, theft from a motor vehicle and theft from a shop.

On Thursday (20 November) at Cambridge Crown Court he was jailed for five years and four months.

PC Craig Trevor said: “These were despicable crimes. To use a variety of distraction techniques and target elderly people in their own homes like this was callous.

“Honeyman’s persistent offending showed a complete lack of regard for other people as he relentlessly stole with no thought to the consequences of his actions.

“Offences like these can have a significant long-term psychological impact on victims, as well as the initial trauma they experience.

“I’m pleased Honeyman was apprehended and by conducting cross-border investigative work with Lincolnshire Police he has now been jailed for his actions.”

Thomas Honeyman