John Jeeves

A pensioner who knocked an elderly lady over in his electric wheelchair was convicted of murder 40 years ago.

John Jeeves, 82, who was convicted of murder by Hampshire Assizes in July 1950, admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Annie Gledhill, 71, at Bridlington Magistrates Court.

She suffered a broken ankle when she was run over by Jeeves in his electric wheelchair.

Retired mill worker and grandmother Mrs Gledhill was shopping on the third day of her week-long holiday in Bridlington when she was hit by the invalid carriage.

Mrs Gledhill said: "It's frightening to think he has been up for murder.

"If he's like that now, he must have been even worse when he was younger than he is now.

"The police asked if I wanted to press charges and I said I would straight away. He could have done a lot of damage and I do not want him to do it to someone else.

"I didn't know he was even there. The first thing I knew was when I felt this bump and thought: 'What the heck's that?'

"I turned round and felt this extra bump and I was carried along a few yards and I was on the floor.

"This thing was trying to drive up my leg and over the top of me. I didn't know what the hell he was doing.

"I didn't even know he was there until I looked up and saw him. It was ridiculous."

Passers-by rushed to help Mrs Gledhill. She said: "Two or three people came over and had a right job pulling him off me. It was still trying to go over me and then someone said to take the key out of the wheelchair.

"Even then he was doing his best to wallop them with his stick. He was shouting and swearing but I couldn't tell you what he said.

"I was so shocked. When I realised I started screaming. I thought: 'This is ridiculous - he's trying to go right over me. This is mad'.

"I know he's an old man but he has no right to go round running people over."

Sentencing was adjourned until November 10 for reports and Jeeves was granted unconditional bail.

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