Pair jailed for killing woman, 82

Maira Roberts had lived in Prestatyn all her life

Two men have been jailed for the manslaughter of an 82-year-old woman who died the day after they burgled her home in Prestatyn, Denbighshire.

John Roberts, 42, and Nathan Williams, 18, both from Dyserth, had already admitted unlawfully killing Maira Roberts last November.

A manslaughter charge against Pepetia Jo Dawson, 22, of Dyserth, was dropped but she was jailed for burglary.

The judge at Mold said the case sent "shudders of fear" through the elderly.

Roberts was sentenced to nine years after admitting manslaughter and one year to run consecutively for handling stolen goods.

He also received a five year sentence for burglaries which will run concurrently.

Williams received six years youth custody for admitting manslaughter and four years for burglaries to run concurrently.

Dawson, who was the getaway driver, admitted two burglaries at the homes of elderly people, including that of Miss Roberts, and possession of cocaine. She was jailed for four years.

The offence was callously executed, you put on your masks and you burst into the house to confront this frail lady Judge John Rogers QC

Simon Medland, prosecuting, told Mold Crown Court how career thief Roberts and his girlfriend Dawson staked out Miss Roberts' detached home for weeks before the burglary last November.

He described how Roberts and Williams, wearing dark masks, hid in an outbuilding and waited for Miss Roberts to unlock her back door.

They over-powered her, threw her into a chair and, threatening to kill her, forced her to hand over her credit card and pin.

Dawson had parked a car outside the house and had her four-year-old daughter in the back so as to avoid suspicion, the court heard.

Following the burglary, Miss Roberts managed to get to a neighbour's house where she collapsed.

She had suffered a split aorta and died the following day at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, the court was told.

Mr Medland said: "Miss Roberts died as a result of the actions of the defendants Roberts and Williams.

'Painful'

"Miss Roberts was 82-years-old, she was six-and-a-half stone and she was small in stature.

"She suffered an upper aortic aneurysm. The pathologist said it would have been excruciatingly painful."

The court had already heard that Miss Roberts had lived at her home all her life.

She never married following the death of her fiancee in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War II.

She was well respected in her local community and treasurer of an artists group, Judge John Rogers QC was told.

Judge Rogers told the defendants he was giving them "deterrent sentences".

He said: "This offence will have sent shivers of fear through all elderly people who live alone."

"Miss Roberts was a fit and active lady looking forward to many happy years ahead until you, Roberts and Williams killed her.

"The offence was callously executed, you put on your masks and you burst into the house to confront this frail lady.

"You knew you would cause her injury, at least physical damage. In the event you caused her death."