Stroke victim robbed

                               By DAN CHURCHER

  Police are seeking two teenage girls who have twice stolen a wedding
  ring from the finger of a disabled woman.

   In both incidents the girls, aged about 17-18, called at the woman's
   home on Lilac Close, Newark.
   When she answered the door, they pushed past her.
   Mrs Margaret Cooke (56) who suffered a stroke ten years ago and is
   paralysed on one side, was later pushed to the floor and threatened
   with violence.
   On the first occasion the girls, thought to be from the Newark area,
   forced off her hand the wedding ring she had worn for 37 years.
   They also stole her engagement ring.
   They returned three weeks later and after searching the house, they
   took her replacement ring and her purse, containing £5.
   Mrs Cooke's husband, Mr Julian Cooke (57) said: "My wife has the mind
   of a 12-year-old and cannot express herself. She thinks everyone is
   her friend.
   "These girls are the lowest of the low. They are filth and heaven
   help them if I get hold of them."
   Both attacks happened while Mr Cooke was working in Grantham.
   He said: "My wife wore her wedding ring for 37 years.

   "They pulled it off and stole it, along with her engagement ring. I
   doubt that you could have eased them off with soap.
   "She was still suffering with the pain when I replaced the wedding
   ring and three weeks later they have taken that as well.
   "Margaret cannot defend herself and is an easy target. These people
   need catching and should go to prison for a very long time.
   "I am bitterly angry. Once is bad enough but twice is contemptible."
   The couple married in Singapore while Mr Cooke was serving with the
   Royal Engineers.
   "She brought the ring out with her. We were engaged at the time and
   she came out from Newark to join me. It meant the world to her."
   Dc Nigel Tutin of Newark CID said: "This was a particularly nasty,
   callous attack on a disabled woman in her own home.
   "I would ask anyone who has any information about the perpetrators to
   contact us and ensure they are brought to justice as quickly as
   possible."
   The first girl is 5ft 7ins, and of medium build.

   She has a lightly tanned complexion, shoulder-length black hair and
   three loop earrings in each ear.
   The second is white, 5ft, slim and has blonde hair.
   Anyone with any information should contact Dc Tutin on 01636 605999.
   CHIEL WRITES: CLICK HERE

CHIEL WRITES:

                              Evil in our midst

Thirty-seven years ago, an excited, engaged girl travelled to the Far
East.

   In her luggage was a gold wedding ring and awaiting her was her
   fiancé, a serving soldier.
   The couple were married in Singapore and the ring has remained on the
   lady's finger ever since, an enduring symbol of mutual commitment and
   devotion.
   Or rather, it remained there until a few weeks ago, when two girls
   forced their way into her home.
   Frustrated at finding little of value, they pulled the ring from her
   finger and stole it, using so much violence the lady's hand remained
   painful for some time.
   They were aided by the fact that the lady is an invalid.
   She had suffered a stroke, returning to her the trusting, innocent
   nature of her childhood and paralysing her on one side.
   The lady's distraught husband bought a new ring for her.
   The girls returned and stole that as well.
   We are told that the answer to crime is to tackle its causes.
   In this case, the cause is pure evil.
   The culprits made little or no financial gain from their crime and
   their only satisfaction stemmed from victimising a defenceless
   invalid.
   The nature of their offence is repulsive to every decent person.
   Police believe the girls are from this area and the descriptions in
   our front page report are specific enough to narrow the field
   considerably.

   Someone, somewhere, knows their identity or harbours suspicions.
   No one should hesitate to share their knowledge with the police, to
   help ensure that vulnerable members of our community can feel more
   secure in their homes.
   Society has both the right and the obligation to protect itself from
   creatures such as these.
   They must be caught quickly and shown no more mercy than they
   extended to their victim.

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