The family of a pensioner who died after masked men broke into her home and stole her handbag has paid tribute to “a strong, determined character who loved life”. Joy Middleditch, 82, was found lying on the floor of her end-of-terrace bungalow in Pakefield, Suffolk, by concerned family members on Saturday (March 25).
Ms Middleditch died in hospital on Monday. Police described the attack on her as “really cowardly and callous”.
In a statement, her family said: “Joy was a strong, determined character who loved life and her dog. She was a loving person who was sadly taken from us too soon. We as a family would like to thank the police and the community for all their help and support.”
Suffolk Police released a photo of Ms Middleditch, who gave police a description of the intruders before she died, triggering a murder investigation. She told her relatives, and later police officers, she had heard a noise at the door before two masked men forced their way in and knocked her to the ground.
On Wednesday, the property was still sealed off from the street by blue and white police tape and an officer in a white forensic suit was working inside the home. A uniformed officer stood outside beside a marked car, and floral tributes had piled up on the lawn, with one card addressed “To the family of Joy” and another saying “From someone who cares X”.
Sarsfield Donohue, Acting Superintendent (East Area) for Suffolk Police, said the only description of the suspects is from Ms Middleditch herself. He said it is thought she was attacked between the evening of Friday March 24 and the early hours of Saturday March 25.
Officers were called to her home in Grayson Avenue at around 2pm on Saturday after family members found her lying on the floor, Mr Donohue said. He said she was found “conscious and breathing” but was in a “serious condition” and was taken to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk. She died there in the early hours of Monday.
A handbag stolen from the bungalow was recovered a short distance away but a purse has not yet been recovered. Searches are continuing at Ms Middleditch’s home and in the surrounding streets.
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Mr Donohoe said the incident was a “really cowardly and callous attack on what was an elderly and vulnerable female in their own home”. He added: “That could have been anybody’s mother or grandmother. If you know something, please do the right thing and come forward and speak to us.
“If you know anybody who was involved or has any information please speak to us. There’s no justification for what happened to Joy.
“It’s a dreadful, dreadful incident. Our thoughts are with her family at this time and they’re being supported by specialist officers.”
Ms Middleditch’s neighbour Bob Johnson said: “It’s very difficult to understand how such a thing should happen or why anybody should go to that extent. For whatever they got, it’s just unbelievable, I just can’t understand.”
The 88-year-old retired postman described Ms Middleditch as a “nice lady” who he would speak to while she was out walking her dog, which he said was a “tiny little thing” who she would give a “little fuss”.
Mr Johnson described the area as “very quiet”, adding: “It’s mostly retired people, or semi-retired.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the major investigation team by emailing MITincident.room@suffolk.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting the reference 37/17537/23. People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
