Jail for one-man crimewave who attacked two old women in their homes

Mark James Glasswell, 34, of Simmons Way, Gipton, admitted aggravated burglary, assault, theft, robbery, attempted robbery, false imprisonment and arson with intent to endanger life.

Over five days last September Glasswell attempted to rob two city centre shops and stole a handbag from an elderly woman before going on to bludgeon an 86-year-old woman with a hammer and set fire to a house with a 78-year-old woman inside.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Glasswell began his crime spree by robbing the White Stuff clothing store on Vicar Lane, Leeds on September 8 after threatening the female store assistant before escaping with the till draw.

Two days later he entered the rear kitchen door of a property on Pendas Walk in the Crossgates area of Leeds where he hit the 86-year-old woman a number of times over the head with a hammer.

The victim underwent emergency surgery and was left with fifty stitches in her head after suffering two skull fractures and a broken eye socket. Following the incident she has been in the care of her family and has subsequently moved out of the area.

The following day an eighty two-year-old woman was walking with her friend on Beckett Street, prior to an appointment at nearby St James Hospital, when Glasswell ripped her handbag from her shoulder.

Later the same afternoon Glasswell had returned to central Leeds where he went into the adult Pulse and Cocktails store on Vicar Lane and threatened a female member of staff with a plastic handgun that was described by the witness as looking like a child’s toy. The member of staff refused to give Glasswell any money and he left the shop.

Glasswell’s final offence took place on Oakwood Park in the early hours of Sunday 12 September when the occupant, 78-year-old Jean Lord, was woken by Glasswell who was stood in the door of her bedroom and threatened her with what is believed to have been the same replica gun used in the Pulse and Cocktails attempted robbery.

As Mrs Lord attempted to use the phone near her bed Glasswell pushed her to the floor injuring her legs and hips. The victim was then dragged downstairs where Glasswell continued to make threats after being told she could not remember her bank card’s pin number.

While Glasswell searched the house he threatened to pour boiling hot water on Mrs Lord’s head and hurt one of her daughter’s who was due to visit the following morning. Despite the numerous threats the only pin number given to Glasswell was a deliberately fake number.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Beldon, from West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “Today’s sentence will hopefully provide some closure for those who came into contact with Glasswell during those five days in September.

“In particular I would like to acknowledge the absolute courage and bravery displayed by the two women whose homes were targeted by Glasswell.

“The circumstances they found themselves in were both extremely unusual but deeply traumatic and I offer my condolences to the family of Mrs Lord, who unfortunately passed away in December.

“The strength and resilience of those who came into contact with Glasswell cannot be underestimated and the detailed evidence they were able to provide helped us to gain Glasswell’s guilty plea and today’s sentence which has seen a despicable individual jailed.”