15 years for cleaner's hammer attack on widow, 77

Police at the scene in Fields Park Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff

A cleaner who tried to kill her 77-year-old employer with a hammer after stealing her store card has been jailed for 15 years.

Nia Roberts, a widow, suffered multiple factures to her face in the assault on her doorstep in Pontcanna, Cardiff.

Mrs Roberts was lucky to be alive after Linda Griffiths rained blows on her head, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Griffiths, 50, who had cleaned Mrs Roberts's home for more than two years, pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

The court was told that the attacker had disguised herself in men's clothing and knocked on the front door of her victim's home.

The elderly not only in Cardiff but throughout Wales and the United Kingdom are terrified of this type of offending Judge Nicholas Cooke

"She answered the door thinking it was a visitor - there she was brutally attacked with a hammer chosen by Griffiths," said Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting.

"She was struck with a number of hard heavy blows to the face and head which knocked her to the ground but the attack continued.

"She was attacked when she was on her knees trying to escape but Griffiths continued to rain blows on her head after she was bleeding profusely.

Spending spree

"Mrs Roberts suffered serious injuries and was lucky to be alive."

Mr Harrington told the court that the day before the attack Griffiths had stolen a House of Fraser MasterCard from Mrs Roberts.

He said she then went on a shopping spree around Cardiff, spending around £200 on perfume, clothes and other gifts.

After the attack masked Griffiths made off from the scene and tried to cover her tracks, and Mrs Roberts had no idea the attacker was the cleaner she trusted.

Griffiths twice visited Mrs Roberts in hospital and took her chocolates she had bought on the stolen card.

The court heard she was discovered and arrested after Mrs Robert's card bill came through to her home.

Jailing Griffiths, from St Mellons, for 15 years, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC said: "You are responsible for a vicious and premeditated attack on a 77-year-old lady in her own home.

"The elderly not only in Cardiff but throughout Wales and the United Kingdom are terrified of this type of offending.

"I must ensure that significant punishment will follow an attack of this kind."

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