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22/04/2009
'Menace' Who Preyed On Elderly Jailed
A 27-year-old Manchester man has been jailed for repeatedly tricking his way into pensioners' homes and then threatening them with a knife.
John Winchcole of Portland Road, Gorse Hill, Trafford, was sentenced yesterday at Bolton Crown Court for three counts of robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary, and one count of dangerous driving.
A further seven offences were taken into consideration and Winchcole was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and will have to serve a minimum of five years in prison before being considered for parole.
Winchcole pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
The offences took place in the winter of 2007, on each occasion tricking his way into the homes of vulnerable pensioners.
Once inside, he physically threatened the pensioners - often by brandishing a knife - and then stole very small amounts of cash.
On one occasion Winchcole knocked on the door of a 78-year-old woman in the Old Trafford area. After getting inside, Winchcole pulled out a knife and demanded her purse.
After a tussle, Winchcole made off with the purse, containing just £2.
In one particularly awful incident on 16 November 2007, Winchcole went into the home of an 80-year-old man in Bolton and pretended to be a friend of a relative.
However, he was soon asking for money and the victim gave him £1. Winchcole then started ransacking the property and the worried victim asked him to leave, prompting Winchcole to pull out his knife.
The pensioner was punched and headbutted, causing him to fall. He managed to activate the panic alarm that forced Winchcole to flee.
The victim suffered cuts and severe bruising to his eyes and forehead.
Detective Sergeant Roger Smethurst, of GMP's Salford division, said: "Winchcole is a particularly nasty piece of work who deserves every minute of his jail sentence.
"Not only did he prey upon vulnerable and frail pensioners just to steal small amounts of cash, but he was also prepared to stoop as low as using a knife to intimidate them. On one occasion he even went so far as to stab a 75-year-old woman.
"Winchcole showed no signs of remorse. He continued to commit these terrible, violent offences until he was caught by police.
"He is a menace to society and the streets of Greater Manchester are a much safer place now that he is behind bars."
(PR/JM)
John Winchcole of Portland Road, Gorse Hill, Trafford, was sentenced yesterday at Bolton Crown Court for three counts of robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary, and one count of dangerous driving.
A further seven offences were taken into consideration and Winchcole was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection and will have to serve a minimum of five years in prison before being considered for parole.
Winchcole pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
The offences took place in the winter of 2007, on each occasion tricking his way into the homes of vulnerable pensioners.
Once inside, he physically threatened the pensioners - often by brandishing a knife - and then stole very small amounts of cash.
On one occasion Winchcole knocked on the door of a 78-year-old woman in the Old Trafford area. After getting inside, Winchcole pulled out a knife and demanded her purse.
After a tussle, Winchcole made off with the purse, containing just £2.
In one particularly awful incident on 16 November 2007, Winchcole went into the home of an 80-year-old man in Bolton and pretended to be a friend of a relative.
However, he was soon asking for money and the victim gave him £1. Winchcole then started ransacking the property and the worried victim asked him to leave, prompting Winchcole to pull out his knife.
The pensioner was punched and headbutted, causing him to fall. He managed to activate the panic alarm that forced Winchcole to flee.
The victim suffered cuts and severe bruising to his eyes and forehead.
Detective Sergeant Roger Smethurst, of GMP's Salford division, said: "Winchcole is a particularly nasty piece of work who deserves every minute of his jail sentence.
"Not only did he prey upon vulnerable and frail pensioners just to steal small amounts of cash, but he was also prepared to stoop as low as using a knife to intimidate them. On one occasion he even went so far as to stab a 75-year-old woman.
"Winchcole showed no signs of remorse. He continued to commit these terrible, violent offences until he was caught by police.
"He is a menace to society and the streets of Greater Manchester are a much safer place now that he is behind bars."
(PR/JM)
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