WOMAN TRICKED HER WAY INTO ELDERLY MAN'S HOME AND THROTTLED, BEAT AND ROBBED HIM
A woman who deceived her way into an elderly man's home and attacked him with a piece of string, attempting to strangle him before hitting him with a heavy glass ashtray and stealing his money, has been sentenced in court.The court learned that while the victim was on the floor bleeding, she also searched his wallet and pockets for loose change.
Sheila Sampson, who has a history of violent, dishonest, and weapons-related offenses, was on parole following previous crimes, including street robbery and making false claims about victims.
Now aged 35, she has been given an extended sentence, qualified as a dangerous offender.
Prosecutor Dean Pulling told the court that on January 17 of the previous year, an elderly man in his 80s had been at a pub in Swansea’s city center watching a football game, returning home around 9.30 pm.
CCTV footage showed Sampson arriving in the area at 10.01 pm and lingering until the victim arrived.
She then approached him, asking if she could use his toilet, which he allowed.
According to the evidence, as the man was watching TV, Sampson came out from the bathroom, introduced herself as Emily, and mentioned she had family nearby.
She asked for money, and when he declined, she persisted.
She then used a length of cord to strangle him, tightening it with her hands, forcing him to fall to the ground.
She proceeded to strike him multiple times with a heavy ashtray, causing head injuries and bleeding.
During this time, she was seen going through his belongings, searching for coins, before fleeing the scene.
The man managed to contact police afterwards.
Emergency services found him bleeding and head-injured, transporting him to Morriston Hospital where he was treated for head lacerations and throat injuries.
Police collected the cord and other items from the scene for DNA analysis, which linked Sampson to the attack.
CCTV images from various sources tracked her departure from the scene into the city center.
On April 21, police located Sampson on The Strand in Swansea and detained her for questioning at Bridgend police station.
She denied involvement in the attack and claimed not to be on CCTV footage.
An impact statement read to the court by the prosecutor revealed the victim’s feelings of fear and worry following the incident, though he was determined not to let it dominate his life.
Sampson, who has no fixed address, had already pleaded guilty to robbery.
Her criminal record includes 24 convictions for 51 offenses, such as theft, violence, dishonesty, drug offenses, and weapon possession.
Her previous sentences include 21 weeks for possessing a knife and drugs in 2019, and a 41-month sentence in 2021 for attacking a man and stealing £500, falsely claiming he was a client of sexual services, an assertion shown to be false by CCTV evidence.
She was released on licence in July 2023 but was still under supervision when she committed the recent offense.
After her arrest, she was returned to prison to serve the remaining part of her earlier sentence.
Her lawyer, Stuart John, highlighted that she was aware of the severe sentence she faced and was committed to making significant life changes during her imprisonment.
Judge Recorder Paul Lewis stated that there was evidence of premeditation in the robbery and, considering her previous criminal history, an extended sentence was appropriate for public protection.
The sentence was set at eight years, comprising six in custody and two on supervised release.
She must serve two-thirds of her custodial term before being considered for parole.
