10 North East lowlifes who preyed on vulnerable pensioners for disgraceful crimes; These North East thugs preyed on vulnerable pensioners.
Byline: By, Nicole Goodwin
Their vulnerable victims have been left physically and mentally scarred by the actions of these cruel criminals.
These North East thugs preyed on vulnerable pensioners. While some subjected their helpless victims to brutal attacks, others saw an opportunity to steal cash and sentimental items from them. One victim handed over £13,850 to a scammer for work which a surveyor found was unwarranted and should have cost £1,200.
Another victim was a 84-year-old who was shot with a BB gun. He will have pellets embedded in his body for the rest of his life as doctors have deemed it too dangerous to remove them. And in a separate attack a 65-year-old victim was convinced he was going to die as a man half his age began laying into his victim for seven minutes in a completely unprovoked attack.
Read more: Durham drug dealer who fled the country jailed
These are the lowlifes who preyed on vulnerable pensioners for disgraceful crimes:
Mark Skelton
A disabled pensioner was returning home when despicable thug Mark Skelton attacked and robbed him on his doorstep. The 75-year-old amputee, who has a prosthetic leg and walks with a stick, briefly lost consciousness and was left bloodied and bruised after being targeted by Skelton who then stole his car and wrote it off.
When he came round, he saw his BMW, which he described as "effectively my legs", had been stolen. Skelton, 30, then crashed it nearby, writing it off and damaging two other vehicles in the process.
A court heard the formerly "fiercely independent" pensioner has now been left anxious and nervous about leaving his home. In a statement read at Newcastle Crown Court, he said: "As a result of being attacked my whole life has been turned upside down. I was attacked on my own doorstep and now I don't feel safe living like I used to, especially as I live on my own.
"I have been dependent on my car to move about and get out. When that man stole my car he stole what are effectively my legs for getting out and about."
Skelton, of Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay, pleaded guilty to robbery and aggravated vehicle taking and was jailed for 40 months. He was also given a five-year restraining order and will be banned from driving for three years following his release.
Read the full story here
Muhammad Ramzan
Muhammad Ramzan betrayed the trust of his 90-year-old neighbour by stealing cheques from her while delivering fruit. The despicable thief helped himself to blank cheques from the middle of the pensioner's chequebook while visiting her home seemingly doing a good deed.
And when Ramzan tried to cash a cheque for £3,700 in his name, fortunately the victim's bank realised it was suspicious so he didn't get his hands on her money. Newcastle Crown Court heard the 90-year-old had lived in her home on Heaton Road, Heaton, Newcastle for 45 years.
She lives alone and Ramzan's mum supports her and has a spare key in case of emergencies. A court heard she has been left devastated and ashamed of her son's actions.
Ramzan, who had also helped the victim, attended her home with his wife in September 2020 and gave her some fruit.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said: "He carried it into the kitchen and when alone in the kitchen he took the opportunity to open a drawer and take hold of her chequebook. He stole...
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