Bogus postman jailed for burgling elderly woman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.hendontimes.co.uk/display.va ... _woman.php

A man who posed as a postman and threatened an elderly woman with a gun has been jailed for five years.

Harrow Crown Court heard how Dwayne Fraser, 23, from Camden, arrived at the home of the 73-year-old, in Edgware Way, on September 4 last year, claiming he had a parcel for her husband.

When the woman, whose husband died 10 years ago, asked to see the name on the package, Fraser forced his way in. He grabbed her arm, produced a small black gun and demanded money.

The victim told Fraser her money was upstairs, then sat down as she thought she was having a heart attack.

She ran to a neighbour's house to call the police.

Fraser shouted at her to come back, before driving off with another person in a small silver car.

Police investigations using CCTV footage and fingerprinting led to Fraser's arrest. He was charged with aggravated burglary on September 6.

He pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court last Friday and was sentenced to five years in prison.

8:24am Friday 21st March 2008

[billyb8]

Is it just me or should those who commit crimes against the elderly or the young get much longer sentences.

[andy2007]

Is it just me or should those who commit crimes against the elderly or the young get much longer sentences.

No, I agree. Unfortunately, we have a weak Government, who are more concerned with controlling the Prison Population, than protecting the Public.

When are they going to learn, that if they make more of an effort to rehabilitate Prisoners during their time in Jail, they are going to be less likley to re-offend, and end up back there. Simply giving shorter sentences, and releasing people early, reduces the deterrent. Making things much more dangerous for all of us. But particularly, vulnerable members of Society.

It would be interesting to find out what percentage of Prisoners have been Jailed at least twice. I fear that it will be a large proportion. What do you think?

[pinstripe]

There is no deterrent. For this type of person crime pays and pays well. They do not care about their victims, only themselves. Prisons should be a grim, stark solution to crime. They are sent to prison (if we're lucky) and it is like a home from home for them. Okay, so they can't go down the pub at the weekend, but that is where the difference ends. They should be punished, I'd bring back hard labour, 14 hours a day breaking rocks or some other hard, physical work, make them pay for their crimes. Give them 5 years of this and they're not likely to re-offend and if they do, send them straight back. I know people make mistakes, errors of judgment etc, but for pity's sake, don't treat them like little children and when they have proved time and time again that they are going to keep committing crime, don't believe them when they say they are sorry and they'll never do it again, at least until they are caught. There is also a very simple solution to over-crowded prisons, build more of them! Not only will it provide jobs, but with a tougher sentence, it may actually reduce the number of re-offenders. Oh, and 5 years means 5 years, none of this letting them out early for good behaviour. Too many criminals work out that if they get 3 years, they'll be out in little over a year and free to continue their chosen career.
What the hell, lock them up and throw away the key, I'd start with these 2 for crimes against the British public and the wanton destruction of a once great service.

:lfo :cfo

[baldrick]

Is it just me or should those who commit crimes against the elderly or the young get much longer sentences.

I think the judge did give him a longer sentence because the victim was elderly.
5 years is quite a heavy sentence for aggravated burglary (though it doesn't say what previous convictions were).

[Lounge Lizard]

He would probably have just got a caution had the victim been a middle aged man !
Seriously though, from dealings with prisoners in a previous job I know that many people are institutionlised and can't face life outside prison, so for many of them the length of sentamce and conditions inside jail are of little consequence, they will just reoffend and return to their normal steady prison life - and I've heard that this is all the more so since the number of places in psyciatric hospital has been greatly reduced. Most of us enjoy our freedoms and couldn't contemplate life in prison, but those who bang on about reintroducing hard labour and a bread and gruel diet as a deterrent aren't being the least bit realistic and would probably benefit from spending some time actually meeting prisoners.

[andy2007]

He would probably have just got a caution had the victim been a middle aged man !
Seriously though, from dealings with prisoners in a previous job I know that many people are institutionlised and can't face life outside prison, so for many of them the length of sentamce and conditions inside jail are of little consequence, they will just reoffend and return to their normal steady prison life - and I've heard that this is all the more so since the number of places in psyciatric hospital has been greatly reduced. Most of us enjoy our freedoms and couldn't contemplate life in prison, but those who bang on about reintroducing hard labour and a bread and gruel diet as a deterrent aren't being the least bit realistic and would probably benefit from spending some time actually meeting prisoners.

As I said earlier: the Government needs to introduce better rehabilitation facilities in Prisons. I don't know what the proportion of repeat offenders is, but I suspect that it is over half.

There are too many people who become institutionalised, and keep returning to Jail. And then there are the so called "Petty Criminals" (although I see nothing petty about it myself), who get such short sentences, that they see Prison as an inconvenience, rather than a deterrent.

I don't know what the answer is. That would have to be up to people with a much better knowledge of the Psychology involved. But there are too many Prisoners leaving Jail, without the capacity to make a life for themselves in the Real World. Once things fall apart. What are they going to turn to, if not their previous life of Crime. Followed by a return to their familiar routine of Prison Life?

And who suffers most from this?
Innocent members of Society, that's who!