Jail for boy who beat elderly woman

Joseph Phillips, 15, beat 84-year-old Kathleen Hutchings to within an inch of her life as he burgled her home in Taunton, Somerset, last year.

Phillips, in foster care at the time of the offence, was jailed by Judge Graham Hume at Taunton Crown Court on Friday, who also opted to lift an anonymity order and name and shame the violent youth.

Mrs Hutchings, then 83, was discovered covered in blood in her home in Juniper Road, on October 15, by her daughter-in-law Doreen Hutchings, more than 24 hours after the attack when she failed to answer her phone.

Phillips left the pensioner writhing in agony, lying with a shattered eye socket, fractured cheekbone, broken arm and covered in bruising.

Mrs Hutchings was previously described as a sharp-minded, independent-spirited pensioner who, after spending two months in hospital following the attacks, is now blind in one eye and requires constant care.

Phillips pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to steal. He was sentenced to at least two years' custody and will not be released until authorities believe it is safe.

Doreen Hutchings, who lives in Devon, said at the time of the attack: "I am not a bitter person, but after I rang the hospital this morning I was bitter. What is the world coming to when this can happen to such a frail person, a defenceless person? She is a person who wouldn't harm anyone. I've known her for 40 years and none of us have had a cross word.

"She's a kind person and she has always been here for us. I would speak to her every day and I knew there was something wrong. Despite being in pain she is very bright and switched-on. She is interested in what's going on in the world.

"She once said to me, 'I don't want to die, I want to know what's going on in the world'. This is just so heart-breaking."