Hammer attacker targeted elderly to buy drugs

Kathleen Jordan, 86, was left scarred for life after Mark Glasswell struck her with a hammer causing two depressed skull fractures and a broken eye socket after walking into her home in Pendas Walk, Crossgates, Leeds, last September.

Bleeding heavily, she was forced into her bedroom where he took her purse before he ordered her to stay in the bathroom while he searched her bungalow.

Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday Glasswell later admitted he handed he £120 proceeds of the burglary straight over to his dealer for heroin and cocaine.

Mrs Jordan now has facial scarring and a crack to her skull which will never heal. She also sold her home for below its value because she could no longer bear to live there.

That night Glasswell, who began taking drugs at the age of nine, went to hospital complaining of an overdose. He had a history of mental illness and told staff he was hearing voices. In the morning he told a psychiatrist he had a hammer in his bag and was going to harm lots of people. A nurse who was alarmed checked his property and found the hammer which was then seized by a security guard.

Mr Sharp added: “However the psychiatrist considered that the defendant posed a low risk to the community and was already well known to the community health team.”

Glasswell was discharged at about 2pm and grabbed a handbag from an 82-year-old woman visiting the hospital as he left, before trying to rob a shop in Vicar Lane with a newly-acquired ball bearing gun.

In the early hours he broke into the home of Jean Lord, 78, in Oakwood, Leeds, searching downstairs before bursting into her bedroom, pointing the same gun at the terrified pensioner and demanding money.

She tried to call 999 but he pushed her to the floor and pulled the phone out of the socket. During a two-hour ordeal he threatened to pour boiling water on her to get her credit card number and when she refused “in revenge or for his own amusement” he set fire to tea towels around the property and left her in the burning house.

Although she managed to get out and suffered limited physical injuries she died on December 9. Medical checks revealed she had a cancerous tumour. Her family said she only returned to her home once and described it as a terrible end to her 45 years there previously full of happy memories.

Glasswell, 34, of Simmons Way, Gipton, Leeds, admitted robbery, attempted robbery, two charges of aggravated burglary, grievous bodily harm with intent, theft, false imprisonment and arson with intent to endanger life.

Jailing him for life the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier QC ordered him to serve a minimum of five years 218 days.

Adrian Pollard, for Glasswell, said he had stopped taking his medication at the time. “He detests himself for what he has done.”