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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 61-year-old man has died after he was robbed at his home on Christmas Day. A retired caretaker has died after he was robbed at his home on Christmas Day.
South Yorkshire police said the man was reportedly assaulted at his home in the Lowedges area of Sheffield by a man who took a PlayStation 3 console and cash. 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.
A force spokesman said the victim had died in hospital. 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.
The 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. 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.
“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. 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, as the victim was still fighting for his life in hospital and before an arrest had been made, DI Richard Partridge said the assault had taken place “on Christmas Day in broad daylight”. On Tuesday, DI Richard Partridge said the assault had taken place “on Christmas Day in broad daylight”.
He said: “We believe that the suspect deliberately targeted this man’s house, forcing his way into the property and injuring a vulnerable member of the community before stealing valuables.” 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”.