Teenagers in court following death of pensioner

Two teenagers have appeared in court charged with robbery and burglary following the death of an 82-year-old woman.

The boys, aged 15 and 16, were previously arrested on suspicion of the murder of Joy Middleditch in Pakefield, near Lowestoft, Suffolk, in March last year.

She died in hospital two days after being found lying on the floor of her Grayson Avenue bungalow by worried family members.

At Norwich Magistrates' Court, sitting as a juvenile court, the boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were released on bail until July 1, when the case will be discussed in more detail.

The 16-year-old boy, supported by his mother and grandfather, pleaded not guilty to theft and burglary.

The 15-year-old boy, who attended court with a social worker, pleaded not guilty to robbery and guilty to burglary.

The charges, read to the court by legal counsel, allege the boys robbed Ms Middleditch of a handbag of unknown value on March 25 last year and entered an address on Grayson Avenue on the same day with the intention to steal.

Ms Middleditch had told relatives, then police, that she heard a noise at the door before two masked men forced their way in and threw her to the ground.

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