Man Jailed For Attack On Elderly Scunthorpe Couple

A violent armed robber who attacked a 90-year-old war veteran and his elderly wife in their home and threatened them with a gun has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Harley Newland, 22, chatted and drank tea with Eric and Joyce Davey before strangling Mr Davey and leaving his 86-year-old wife lying unconscious on the floor of their Scunthorpe house in a pool of blood.

Grimsby Crown Court heard today how he described himself in a letter to the judge as disgusting, horrible, vile and disgraceful'' after what he did.

Judge David Tremberg said the attack on the Daveys was vicious and brutal'' and passed an extended sentence on Newland.

The judge said he should serve 10 years and eight months but faces an extended licence period for up to 15 years.

The court has heard how, during the attack, Newland produced a gun and demanded money from Mr Davey, threatening to shoot his wife if he did not comply.

The court was told the defendant was motivated by greed and spent £2,700 of his ''ill-gotten gains'' on a Rolex watch for his wife.

Prosecutors said the couple's injuries could have been fatal, irrespective of their age. They were taken to separate hospitals, where they spent their first Christmas apart in 69 years of marriage.

Mr Davey made a 999 call to the emergency services in which he can clearly be heard struggling to speak due to the damage caused to his throat by Newland.

He tells the operator that he and his wife have been attacked by a man and are both ''bleeding badly'' and begs her to send an ambulance.

He said: ''My wife's on the floor. I don't know whether she's dead or alive.''

Both the victims now suffer from nightmares as a result of the attack, with Mr Davey experiencing flashbacks to his time serving in the Navy in the Second World War.

Newland has admitted robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Davey and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mrs Davey.