PAIR ATTACKED 85-YEAR-OLD MAN IN HIS HOME
North Shields resident Jai Milligan and Candice Tote committed a brutal assault on a vulnerable elderly man, which resulted in his hospitalization for 12 days after they stole his wallet.The attack occurred after the pair deceived their way into the elderly man’s home, leaving him injured on the floor.
The victim, who had just watched a televised Newcastle United victory parade, was subjected to a violent assault by Milligan and Tote.
The incident took place in the victim’s bungalow in Walker, Newcastle, on the evening of March 29 last year.
At about 8 pm, he noticed a knock on his back door’s window and saw a man and woman.
One of them claimed, 'Rita sent me,' convincing the victim to open the door.
Tote pushed past him, and Milligan followed.
According to prosecutor Jennifer Coxon, the woman was smoking inside the victim’s home despite his disapproval, and he told them to leave.
As he attempted to reach his phone to contact authorities, she punched him.
He responded with a punch, and the man then struck him several times on the head, knocking him to the ground.
Milligan then stole the victim’s wallet with about £150 cash and his bank card.
The card was later used at a nearby shop to buy £10 worth of goods.
The court heard that the victim passed away from unrelated causes but had suffered swelling and cuts consistent with the assault, which kept him hospitalised for nearly two weeks.
His grandson submitted a victim impact statement emphasising the severity of the attack, referring to it as "despicable and cowardly," and describing the importance of his grandfather’s independence and sense of security.
The family expressed their distress, noting that the incident profoundly affected their sense of safety in their own home.
They had installed a doorbell camera for added security and experienced many sleepless nights worrying about their grandfather.
Milligan, aged 43 with a lengthy criminal record including robbery and burglary, admitted to the charge of robbery and received a sentence of 73.5 months, plus an extended license of 12 months, reflecting his potential for causing serious harm.
Tote, aged 48 with over 100 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to common assault, fraud, and breach of a suspended sentence.
She was sentenced to 21 months.
Helen Towers, for Milligan, explained that Milligan has struggled with addiction since adolescence, leaving school at 12, and showed remorse, apologising indirectly to the victim’s family.
His actions were influenced by substance abuse, and he denied premeditating the robbery targeting an elderly person.
Milligan’s personal history includes the loss of his girlfriend in 2001, an event that continues to haunt him.
In her submissions, John Wilkinson, representing Tote, stated she had been let down by authorities and suffers from PTSD, having served eight months in custody while on remand.
