Crimestoppers offer up to £10k for information relating to attack on pensioner beaten and stabbed

Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information to help solve a crime that saw a retired school teacher bludgeoned with her own walking stick before being fatally stabbed [23 January 2012]

The 77-year old pensioner, Betty Yates, was found in her cottage, off Dowles Road, Bewdley, and had suffered stab wounds to the neck, which are thought to be the cause of death.

Mrs Yates’ body was found on 4 January, at the foot of the stairs of her Worcestershire home, by police who had been called after friends became concerned when she had missed an organised walk the day before.

West Mercia Police is treating the death as a murder, and have revealed that the property was secure when Mrs Yates was found dead.

Crimestoppers is offering this reward for information passed onto the charity anonymously that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Crimestoppers Regional Manager for the West Midlands, Pauline Hadley, said: “This cowardly attack is especially cruel with a defenceless elderly lady being murdered in her own home.

This is a shocking crime and someone knows who might have done this.

On behalf of the devastated community we appeal for anyone with any information that might help find the murderer to contact Crimestoppers immediately.

Your anonymity is guaranteed whether you call 0800 555 111 or fill in our online secure Giving Information Form.

Tell us who is responsible so that we can bring peace for Mrs Yates friends and family.

The reward of up to £10,000 is offered for information provided to Crimestoppers through our anonymous number 0800 555 111 that leads to an arrest and conviction of the individual/s responsible for this specific crime.

Rewards can only be claimed for information that has been passed onto our anonymous phone number. Rewards cannot be claimed for information coming through our online form.

For more information contact our press office.

- ENDS -

• NOTES TO EDITORS
• Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org
• Around 23 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers.
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over 1.2 million actionable calls, resulting in over 110,000 arrests and charges. Over £116 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £217 million worth of drugs has been seized.
• In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 1,200 arrests to date.
• Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers’ ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.