An 81-year-old terminally ill pensioner has been locked up for seven years after he strangled a 95-year-old woman and tried to rob her in her own home. Edwin Morrison launched the brutal attack in Little Hulton, Salford, demanding money while tying his victim’s hands with cable ties.
Twisted Attack Foiled by Timely Arrival of Hairdresser
Shouting “give me your money,” Morrison struggled the helpless pensioner. She begged him to stop, gasping she could not breathe, but he cruelly told her to “shut up.” Luckily, the victim’s mobile hairdresser, Michaela Nelson, arrived just in time. Thinking Morrison was a friend, Michaela was shocked when the victim yelled for her to call the police. Morrison then threatened the hairdresser before fleeing empty-handed. Police traced him using his car movements and arrested him shortly after.
Disturbing Background: From Medic to Menace
- Morrison had previously visited the victim while delivering her medication during his former job.
- He recalled she tipped him just £2 – the “princely sum” he targeted.
- The court heard Morrison was a gambler who regularly visited bookmakers before the January 2026 attack.
- Diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer in May 2024, he was also battling severe depression.
- He shockingly claimed the robbery was to raise money for his funeral, although he’d already paid funeral costs in 2024.
Judge Slams ‘Selfish’ Crime; Victim Speaks Out
“Your involvement in this serious offence beggars belief but that will be of no comfort to your victims,” said Judge Peter Horgan. “You targeted a vulnerable, frail elderly lady you thought you could easily rob.”
Victim’s personal statement chillingly revealed: “I thought I was going to die.” Detective Inspector Paul Davies praised the victim’s “resilience and strength” and hailed the “brave actions” of the mobile hairdresser for stopping further violence and swiftly calling police. Rob Lancaster from the Crown Prosecution Service added: “The swift prosecution and overwhelming evidence, including CCTV and forensic findings, shows how seriously we take these offences.”
Pensioner’s Plea: ‘No Harm Intended’
Morrison’s lawyer claimed his client acted out of “depression and despair” and intended the money for his partner, not himself. Describing his client’s behaviour as “altruistic rather than malicious,” the lawyer acknowledged the offence was “utterly selfish and self-centred” – a first in Morrison’s life.
