Pictured: Great-great grandmother, 82, who died after break-in

Pictured: Great-great grandmother, 82, who died after two masked intruders broke into her seaside bungalow during bungled robbery – as murder detectives hunt pair

• Joy Middleditch, 82, suffered fatal injuries when she was shoved to the ground
• Her great-niece Rebekka Arnold has appealed for help in catching her killers 

A great-great grandmother who was left for dead after two masked intruders broke into her home has been pictured. 

Joy Middleditch suffered fatal injuries when she was shoved to the ground as two men attempted to burgle her modest two-bedroom home in Pakefield, Suffolk.

The 82-year-old’s devastated great-niece, Rebekka Arnold, called on the public to help track down the killers in an emotional Facebook post.

It said: ‘Please contact Suffolk Police as soon as possible to bring these horrible scumbags to justice.’

The crooks are believed to have fled with nothing more than a purse containing pension money after bursting into her bungalow and assaulting her. 

Joy Middleditch, 82, suffered fatal injuries when she was shoved to the ground at her home in Pakefield, Suffolk

A forensics officer outside the home of Mrs Middleditch, 82, who died in hospital following a break-in at her home

Her handbag was found less than half a mile away, but the purse is still missing.

The intruders callously left the mother-of-three to die after the late night raid on Friday night or early Saturday morning

She was found by a neighbour on Saturday afternoon and was rushed to hospital but died early on Monday morning.

Police have confirmed they are treating the incident as a murder investigation. No arrests have been made. 

Ms Arnold’s mother, Mandy Leadbitter, said her aunt wasn’t wealthy and wouldn’t have had much money, adding: ‘They probably just took basic things – her purse, which probably only had her pension money.’

Suffolk Police have only reported her handbag stolen. The distinctive orange bag with silver link chain handle, was found in a nearby road with the purse missing.

Suffolk Police said two masked men forced entry into her home and knocked her to the ground before stealing her handbag and purse 

Police seen looking for clues at the home of Mrs Middleditch, who was left with fatal injuries after two masked intruders broke into her home in Pakefield, Suffolk

Social transport driver Mrs Leadbitter, 57, described twice-widowed mother-of-three Mrs Middleditch as ‘quite a strong woman’, having recently fought off bowel cancer and then overcoming double pneumonia just weeks ago.

She added: ‘I think she would had have stood up for herself. She was that type – she wouldn’t have taken any nonsense.’

Ms Arnold also urged the public to help identify the men, saying: ‘What they did was terrible. I’m concerned that if they’re not caught they’ll do it again.’

Mrs Middleditch – described as a ‘glamorous woman who always had make-up on and her hair nice’ – was found on the floor of her home.

She was conscious at the time and is believed to have given police information about her attackers.

It is understood she had responded to a noise at her door before the men barged their way in.

She passed away at James Paget Hospital in Gorleston. Her injuries have not been disclosed and a post-mortem examination is due to take place.

Mrs Middleditch, 82, died in James Paget Hospital on Monday morning, police said 

Police seen searching nearby roads in Pakefied, Suffolk, where Mrs Middleditch died after a bulglary at her home

Locals were shocked at the brutal death in what is normally a quiet neighbourhood.

One neighbour, who said she lived alone with her nine-year-old Lhasa Apso dog Zen following the death of her second husband, said: ‘She was a lovely lady. This is an extremely quiet area and I can’t believe what has happened.’

Another resident, Doris Kirsten, added Mrs Middleditch regularly attended weekly coffee mornings at Lowestoft Centre for the Over-60s.

‘She would be collected in a minibus, after it picked me up. She was a quiet lady but she was really nice,’ she said.

‘She would come out on her little walker and would stay on at the club for something to eat.’ Over-60s club coordinator Phil Love said: ‘Her death has shocked many people here.

‘She lived in a quiet and pleasant street. The fact that it happened in such a welcoming area makes it even more shocking.’

Detective Chief Inspector Mathew Connick, of the joint major investigations team, said: ‘This is a very serious incident following which a woman very sadly lost her life.

‘The investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the offence continues, as do enquiries to establish the cause of death.

‘The family are being supported by specially trained officers as part of the investigation.

Police seen searching the scene in Pakefield, Suffolk

‘Local residents should expect to see an increased police presence over the next few days while enquiries take place, while additional officers will also be in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.

‘Whilst searches and house-to-house enquiries take place, we are keen to speak to anyone who finds a purse or who saw suspicious activity in the area late on Friday and into Saturday morning and anyone living in the area with CCTV or doorbell cameras.’

Detectives are also asking for motorists with dashcams who were in the area between 6pm on Friday and 7am on Saturday to get in contact.

Mrs Middleditch, who is understood to have dedicated her life to raising her children, had a twin son and daughter with first husband Basil Block, who died in his 30s.

She had another child with second husband Allan, who died from cancer in 2021.

White suited forensic officers were combing through the pensioner’s bungalow yesterday, while uniformed officers searched her front garden.

Nearby undergrowth and bushes were also being checked.

Detectives are also asking motorists with dashcams who were driving between 6pm on March 24 and 7am on March 25 near the B1532, London Road, south Lowestoft, to contact police.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the major investigation team here.

Source: Read Full Article