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Man dies after being robbed at home in Sheffield on Christmas Day | Man dies after being robbed at home in Sheffield on Christmas Day |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A retired caretaker has died after he was robbed at his home on Christmas Day. | |
South Yorkshire police said the 61-year-old man, Stephen Starkey, was attacked at his home in the Lowedges area of Sheffield by a man who took a PlayStation 3 console and cash from him. | |
His friend and neighbour Derek Wilkinson, 79, described how Starkey managed to cross the road to his house to raise the alarm after he was assaulted on Christmas morning. | |
Wilkinson said he called the emergency services after his friend described how he was knocked to the ground by someone who called at his door. | |
He said Starkey lived by himself and had been attacked earlier this year in a similar incident. | |
Wilkinson added: “This bloke had come and knocked him down in the doorway and pinched his things off him. | |
“He [Starkey] come over to me and we rung for ambulances and police and things like that. He was very shook up. He’d done his shoulder, I think, and they’d knocked him about.” | |
A police spokesman said Starkey had died in hospital. | |
Wilkinson, who said he had lived in the street for 40 years, said Starkey had lived alone in the house for 30 years. He added: “I knew him very well – a very big friend of mine. He was a smashing fella … a very nice fella and he’ll be missed.” | |
Wilkinson said his friend used to work locally for the council’s housing department as a caretaker. | |
He added: “It’s a very quiet area usually. Fairly quiet. They’re all bought properties, mainly.” | |
Other neighbours said Starkey was not in good health and frail. Police described him as vulnerable. | |
A police spokesman said: “At around 10.30am on Thursday 25 December, a 61-year-old man was inside his home in Reney Crescent, Lowedges, when he answered a knock at his door. An unknown man is reported to have entered the property, assaulting the 61-year-old and taking a PlayStation 3 and cash before fleeing the scene. | |
“The 61-year-old was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries where he later died. His family have been informed and officers are providing support.” | “The 61-year-old was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries where he later died. His family have been informed and officers are providing support.” |
He said a 37-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident and was in police custody. | He said a 37-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the incident and was in police custody. |
On Tuesday, DI Richard Partridge said the assault had taken place “on Christmas Day in broad daylight”. | |
He said police believed the attacker had “deliberately targeted this man’s house, forcing his way into the property and injuring a vulnerable member of the community before stealing valuables”. |