02/09/2026
A woman has been jailed for more than five years after a robbery took place targeting an elderly man in Middlesbrough. ⚖️
On Sunday 19th April around 9:30pm, 39-year-old Leoni Prince from Crescent Road in Middlesbrough attacked a man in his seventies in a property on Glamis Grove, before stealing his belongings.
She attended the property with two men who had their hoods up and stormed into the house dragging the victim along the hallway.
They punched and kicked the man whilst demanding his bank card and searching his jacket pockets.
The three searched the bedrooms of the property and even threatened to kill the man.
Leoni left the property with a carrier bag of items, and the victim was then able to phone for help. They had taken the man’s bank card and £100 in cash, and electrical items including a laptop, headphones and X Box.
After an investigation by Middlesbrough CID officers, Leoni Prince was identified and charged with robbery. She was sentenced on Thursday 27th August at Teesside Crown Court to five years and three months in prison, plus a restraining order was put in place for ten years to prevent her from contacting the victim.
🗣️Detective Constable Itsharm Ramzan, of Middlesbrough CID, said: "The bravery shown by the victim throughout this investigation has been nothing short of extraordinary. He was violently attacked, yet he demonstrated immense courage and determination in helping officers bring the offender to justice.
“This sentence sends a clear and unequivocal message to those who target vulnerable people for personal gain. If you choose to commit violent crime in our communities, we will pursue every available line of enquiry to identify you, locate you, arrest you and place the evidence before the courts. It does not matter how long it takes or where you attempt to hide, we will work tirelessly to ensure you are held accountable for your actions.
“Those who prey on the elderly and vulnerable are among the most cowardly offenders we deal with. Cleveland Police will continue to relentlessly target such criminals, and we will do everything within our power to ensure that those responsible are removed from our streets and face the consequences. We hope this sentence provides reassurance to the public and demonstrates that violent offenders will be brought to justice."
A man arrested was later released without charge. Officers would urge anyone with information regarding the identity of the two men to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference number 073730 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously online or by calling 0800 555 111. 📞
