Soaring toll of crimes by pensioners

JOYRIDING, attempted murder, carrying a gun, and trafficking drugs are just some of the misdemeanours alleged to have been carried out by Yorkshire pensioners.

Three police forces in Yorkshire have arrested hundreds of over- 70s in the past two years in connection with 532 reported offences.

The findings come just days after 68-year-old Ernest Wright was told he would spend the rest of his life in jail for the brutal murder of Neville Corby, whom he blasted him in the neck with a shotgun.

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Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows police have been called out to deal with incidents involving pensioners as old as 90.

One expert said the large number of elderly shoplifters could be down to pensioners struggling to pay the bills during the credit crunch.

A specialist in criminology and criminal justice at the University of Leeds, Dr Richard Peake, said: "It could well be that some of these people are career criminals and some could be for economic gain, particularly in times of recession."

Some of the alleged offences carry lengthy jail terms, including a 76-year-old held for attempted murder.

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Police were also called out after a 73-year-old was reported for possessing a firearm with intent, and to collar an alleged 86-year-old car thief.

South Yorkshire Police detained a 75-year-old suspected of aggravated burglary, as well as being called out to deal with an 88-year-old accused of breaching the peace.

Other Yorkshire arrests included a 70-year-old for making threats to kill, a 75-year-old for robbery, and a number of people under the influence of drink or drugs.

The director of the Crime and Policing Group at the University of Huddersfield, Dr Jason Roach, said: "The evidence is that from the age of 50 upwards there is an increase in the number of people going through the criminal justice system and being sentenced."

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The forensic psychologist said some older people were arrested for crimes which they committed years or even decades ago, often due to advances in forensic technology.

"There is precious little research in this area. I would go out on a limb and say it is that social attitudes and police attitudes to older people have changed to become less tolerant, and that has permeated through to the courts system as well.

"Most crimes are committed by 18- to 23-year-old males and are things like fighting and drug-taking.

"I wouldn't think older people would be involved in those crimes but I don't see why they wouldn't be involved in petty crimes like most other people."

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Charities Age Concern and Help the Aged run a project to help older offenders after finding the number of ageing people entering the criminal justice system has trebled in the past 20 years, with 10 per cent of prison inmates now aged 50 or over.

South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police each dealt with 185 reported offences committed by people over the age of 70 during 2008 and 2009.

North Yorkshire Police figures show they handled 162 such incidents in the same timeframe.

Across the three forces, more than half a million crimes were reported in the two-year period.