105-year-old woman terrorised by burglars

The first pictures have been released of the 105-year-old woman who died after being targeted repeatedly by burglars.

Amelia Whale, shown here celebrating her 100th birthday, refused to move from the home she shared with her younger brother Leonard in Islington, despite four break-ins in 18 months.

Police installed security bars and CCTV last year after the third burglary. But that did not stop Bernard Gallagher, 23, and Mark O'Brien 26, raiding her home last September and stealing £2,000.

The pair, both travellers, were caught on camera and traced to a campsite. They now face jail.

But Miss Whale, known to her friends as Dolly, will never see them receive justice. She died from natural causes last month after living in fear. Her friends and family said she never recovered from the trauma of the break-ins - and have called for lengthy jail sentences to be imposed.

Former neighbours Sheila and Tony Ashby said that Miss Whale's health deteriorated after the raid and that she had died fearful of becoming a victim yet again.

Mr Ashby, who now lives in Chingford, said: "They should get 20 years. Terrorising old people is not a victimless crime. They knew she was an old lady. She was as good as gold beforehand."

Mrs Ashby said her neighbour had been deliberately targeted by the intruders. "After the burglary she was very nervous, especially when Len went shopping. The cowards waited for Len to go out. They were taunting her." Miss Whale, a former leather worker, had lived in the house off Essex Road, for 93 years.

Gallagher and O'Brien admitted one count of burglary in court last Friday.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that they and an accomplice forced their way in while Miss Whale was in the sitting room. They then ransacked the flat, rifling through boxes and throwing them on to the floor.

They even dragged Miss Whale up from her chair to search underneath for her pension book. She was unable to stand up by herself.

Eventually the burglars discovered the Whales' life savings, stashed in a shoe box.

The CCTV set up at Miss Whale's home helped identify all three men. Police arrested Gallagher and O'Brien at a caravan site in Wickford, Essex. They will be sentenced on Friday, but the hunt for their accomplice goes on.