'Evil coward' killed widow

"Evil coward" Mark Fitzgerald attacked the frail widow

A serial burglar who picked on elderly people has been described as an "evil coward" after he was convicted of the manslaughter of a 92-year-old woman.

Mark Fitzgerald, 34, of Dolphin Street, Leeds was found guilty of killing Lily Myers after he knocked her to the ground when she confronted him in her ground floor flat.

Mrs Myers suffered a broken bone in her neck and a fractured collarbone. She died in hospital three weeks after the attack which happened in January 2002.

Fitzgerald, a father of seven children, was jailed for 15 years after being convicted of the killing and five burglaries, but acquitted of a further 12 break-ins.

Fitzgerald was found not guilty on the charge of murdering Mrs Myers.

Judge Mr Justice James Hunt told him: "You were targeting elderly people in their homes and were prepared to use violence against them and did so to gain your means.

"This was a serious case of manslaughter. You went into that house prepared to use violence and you did so despite the victim's frailty."

Frail Lily Myers died three weeks after the burglary

The court heard Fitzgerald was involved in a campaign of burglaries when he targeted the widow's Alwoodley home.

On confronting the 4 ft 10 in tall Mrs Myers, who weighed just five-and-a-half stone, he knocked her to the floor.

A pair of trainers found at his east Leeds home matched prints found at the crime scene.

Fibres from Mrs Myers flat were also found on his fleece.

After the case Detective Superintendent Howard Crowther said: "This man killed a 92-year-old lady purely to save his own skin. The best I can call him is an evil coward.

"This is the third time he has attacked an elderly lady in her own home.

"He bit one lady on the hand, put his hands around another's neck and demanded money and now he has killed Lily Myers.

"I thank the jury for the verdict. I feel West Yorkshire, particularly for the elderly, is far safer with this man in custody."