A callous robber preyed on two old ladies pretendi

A callous robber preyed on two old ladies pretending
he was employed to help the elderly with hip problems, the Old
Bailey heard.

One of William Cook’s victims, 74-year-old Rose Reeve
can only walk with with aid of a zimmer frame, but he punched
her so hard he broke her dentures, it was alleged.

And the second lady, 80-year old Phoebe Laws was trussed
with her own tights by Cook, said prosecutor Mr Stephen Waller.

The court heard he called at Mrs Reeve’s home in sheltered
accomodation in Billet Lane, Stanford le Hope, Essex, on July
31 last year.

He asked allegedly asked a neighbour: ‘Is there a lady
along here suffering with her hip?’
The neighbour did not know and greyhaired Cook, 53, said
he would ask the warden, the jury was told.

But instead he went to Mrs Reeve’s home where she was watching
mid-afternoon television.

As it was a hot day Mrs Reeve had left her front door open and
she was suddenly aware of a man standing over her.

‘He put his hand over her mouth and demanded money,’ said
counsel.

‘He then dragged her back into the bedroom and on to the bed.

She screamed for help.

He hit her two hard blows.

‘One knocked her off the bed on to the floor.

The denture plate
in her mouth was broken.

‘
Cook grabbed the watch from the old lady’s wrist then fled
through the bedroom door.

Mrs Reeve was so terrified she could not leave her room for
ten minutes.

When she felt safe to emerge she found Cook had stolen her
money, said Mr Waller.

Two days later Cook struck at another sheltered block of flats
in Longbridge Road, Barking, claimed counsel.

Several residents were asked where the lady with the hip
trouble lived.

‘It would appear that this same man had gone to several flats
looking for an appropriate victim,’ said Mr Waller.

Mrs Laws heard the noise outside her flat and opened the door.

When she saw the man was at another flat she began to close
her door again.

‘Then the man rushed over to her and pushed the door open,’
said counsel.

‘He had his hand over her mouth and pushed her back into
the bedroom.

She fell to her knees.

He demanded her money and
threatened to hurt her.

‘He went through her handbag and he then used a pair
of her old tights to tie her ankles together very tightly.

‘
The intruder then ran from the flat and the old lady pulled
her panic cord.

Two weeks later Cook was arrested at the home in Lambourne Road,
Barking, he shared with his elderly mother.

The court heard police officers found him trying to hide
behind a wardrobe.

Cook, who declined to answer questions, was later picked out
on indentity parades by both victims.

He denies two charges of robbery.

The trial continues.

ENDS