Man hands himself in over death of pensioner in Bridlington bag snatch

A MAN has handed himself in to police at Bridlington over the death of a Sheffield woman who had her bag snatched from her mobility scooter in the resort.
Pamela RoddisPamela Roddis
Pamela Roddis

The 32 year-old, from Bridlington, is currently being questioned about the incident.

Pamela Roddis, 73, who was paralysed down one side, died four days after the thief took her bag which had fallen out of the basket of her scooter in Bridlington where she was on holiday.

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Police say they cannot “evidentially link” the death of the retired receptionist to the incident. But officers believe the “stress and upset of the theft may have contributed to her deterioration in health”.

A man on a bike who police would like to speak to following the theft of a bag from pensioner Pamela RoddisA man on a bike who police would like to speak to following the theft of a bag from pensioner Pamela Roddis
A man on a bike who police would like to speak to following the theft of a bag from pensioner Pamela Roddis

Humberside Police said Mrs Roddis, from Sheffield, was on her mobility scooter outside the Gala Club on the promenade in the resort when a cyclist rode past her and took the black shopping bag containing £300 in cash and her mobile phone on January 26.

A force spokesman said Mrs Roddis was so shaken by the theft that she cut her holiday short and returned to Sheffield the next day.

She died on January 30 of a brain haemorrhage.

Ms Roddis’s brother yesterday appealed for information to find the person responsible.

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Barry Neilson, 62, said he was most upset by the fact the thief had spoiled her last few days.

“There is no way the incident can be connected with her death although it may have raised her blood pressure. It certainly didn’t help,” he said.

“There is some good CCTV and some reasonably good pictures of this character and definitely somebody in Bridlington will either recognise him or his bicycle. Chances are that he is a local lad and someone knows him.

“After she came back to Sheffield she was really upset about what happened. I went to see her when she was in hospital but she wasn’t conscious so I never spoke to her again. I would just like him prosecuted for the offence.

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“My feeling is he obviously stole for a reason – but you don’t steal off old people. It is out of order.”

Mrs Roddis, who lived at the Brunswick Gardens Retirement Village, Sheffield, was left disabled by a brain haemorrhage 30 years ago, but was extremely independent.

Mr Neilson said his sister, who used to be a receptionist at Rotherham Leisure Centre, was a “different person” when she was in Bridlington.

He added: “She absolutely loved the place. A lot of people knew her.

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“She would be riding round on her mobility scooter – a bit like Madge off (the ITV comedy show) Benidorm) with a cigarette in her mouth or in her hand.

“She used to go there with her late husband William and so she had lots of happy memories.

“She stayed in a guest house and spent the time seeing friends. She loved being at the seaside, she used to go to the bingo, she went to one of the bus station cafes for her lunch.

“She had just come out and her bag literally fell out of the basket in front of the scooter.

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“A passing cyclist stopped, bent down and rode off like Billy Whizz.”

Mr Neilson’s daughter Tracey Outram, who was very close to her aunt, seeing her several times a week, said Mrs Roddis was very upset by losing her handbag: “She had never had anything like that happen to her before. It was a massive shock.”

Police are trying to trace a cyclist who was wearing a hat with ear flaps. Several names have been put forward as possible suspects.

Pc Brigham said he was treating the death and the theft as two separate incidents.

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He said: “I was gutted and everybody who was on duty was gutted to hear about Mrs Roddis’ death.

“I have located two CCTV stills of a man on a bike

“I would very much like to speak to in connection with the theft of the handbag.

“I want to take the opportunity to ask people in Bridlington to rack their brains and identify the male and catch the criminal who carried out this crime.

“Bridlington is a family friendly resort and this is an isolated incident. Bridlington police are passionate about keeping the public safe and holidaymakers safe during their stay.”

Witnesses should contact police on the 101 number.