Woman attacked disabled man and disconnected his panic alarm in robbery at Leeds sheltered housing complex

Theresa Jordan took the victim's mobile phone and tried to disabled a panic alarm to stop him calling for help during the attack at Potternewton Court.

Jordan targeted the man's home during the coronavirus lockdown on April 11 this year.

Robert Galley, prosecuting, said the victim has had mobility problems for 30 years since suffering from a stroke.

Jordan knocked on the door of his home at the complex at 10pm and pushed past him when he opened it.

The 29-year-old defendant then searched through drawers and stole his wallet and mobile phone.

Mr Galley said Jordan disconnected the landline telephone cable and a panic alarm.

She left the property and used the victim’s bank card to withdraw £200 from a cash machine nearby.

She also used the card at a number of local shops.

Police were contacted after the panic alarm was activated despite Jordan’s attempt to stop it working.

The victim’s son contacted police and Jordan was identified as the suspect from CCTV footage at shops where she used the bank card.

The victim was unable to identify Jordan at an identity procedure.

Jordan denied any offending until the day of a trial but pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud.

A statement was read to the court on behalf of the victim in which he described how he no longer felt safe in his own home.

He also suffered cuts and grazing to his arms during the incident.

Jordan has previous convictions for robbery, burglary, shop lifting and criminal damage.

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said Jordan had written a letter of apology to the victim.

Mr Walsh said she pleaded guilty on the day of the trial to spare the victim giving evidence.

Jordan was jailed for three years and four months.

Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, said: “It is perfectly clear that you targeted (the victim) who you knew to be elderly and infirm.

“It doesn’t need me to tell you what a mean and nasty offence it was to target him in his own home.”