War hero, 89, scared out of home by drug addict's knife robbery

Jan 14 2009 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THIS is a robber who terrified an 89-year-old war veteran so much he quit the only home he had ever known.

Drug addict Paul Michael Steadman threatened his elderly victim with a knife after walking into his back-to-back terraced house in Huddersfield three times.

Now he is behind bars serving an indeterminate sentence to protect the public.

Steadman, 39, of Eastlands, Almondbury, admitted four robberies and one burglary when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court.

The victim was so scared Steadman would return, he has now moved into sheltered accommodation.

He had lived in the same back-to-back terraced home in Huddersfield all his life, first with his parents and later with his wife until he became a widow.

The victim served with the Royal Artillery in the Second World War and was taken prisoner.

The court heard that Steadman first struck on April 30 last year after creeping in through an open door.

He grabbed a knife from the kitchen and told his victim: “Give me the money or I’ll stick this into you.”