'Elderly Woman Died after Fighting off Robber'

PA News

Tue 5 Oct 2004
3:33pm (UK)

'Elderly Woman Died after Fighting off Robber' - Court

By Shenai Raif

A brave pensioner was murdered after she fought a robber who preyed on a dozen other elderly victims, the Old Bailey was told today.

Hilda Ashdown, 82, hit out with her stick as two men held her down and rifled through her bag after pushing their way into her flat.

But she was kicked and punched in the face as she activated her alarm for help, said Nicholas Atkinson QC, prosecuting.

Mrs Ashdown, who had lived in her Camberwell, south London, home for 47 years, died 10 days later from bleeding in her brain.

Elroy Simmonds, 26, of Kennington, south London, denies murder, attempted robbery and causing grievous bodily harm on Mrs Ashdown in March, last year.

He also denies robbery offences against 12 other pensioners aged 68 – 95 in the same area of London and committed mainly in a three-month period last year.

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