He crept into a retired nurse's bedroom at night and began violently attacking her

Carl Reed, 52, of no fixed address, was jailed for ten years with an extended period of four years afterwards, for assault with intent to commit robbery on Anglesey
-Credit: (Image: North Wales Police)


An intruder crept into the bedroom of a retired nurse before violently attacking her. The 70-year-old woman woke up in the night to find Carl Reed inside her Anglesey home and demanding money.

He threatened to "knife" her, and punched her when she started to cry. When he went into another room to ring an accomplice, she managed to flee from her Holyhead home.

Reed tossed a walkie talkie, crow bar and gloves out of a car window as he fled in a getaway car - but was later caught by police. He admitted assault with intent to commit robbery in the incident in March last year.

Read more: Major operation launched to rescue youngsters trapped in notorious Eryri slate mine

Read more: Former North Wales factory site could be transformed into 159-home estate

A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court today jailed Reed for ten years with an extended period of four years on licence. Prosecutor Richard Edwards said Edwina Bentley had locked her doors and gone to bed at her home in Holyhead on March 23 last year. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

She heard a metallic sound but thought it was a neighbour doing renovations. She fell asleep but was woken by a male intruder crouching by her bed. Reed was looking at her with "piercing eyes" as he had been on drugs.

Pinning Ms Bentley to the bed, Reed said: "Where's the f****** money, b***h, or I'll knife you?" The court heard he wrongly believed there was cash in the property.

Ms Bentley started crying but he punched her. She tried being nice to Reed calling him "darling" and saying: "Please, love, I have no money."

Eventually, Reed went into another room and phoned his brother. Reed said words to the effect of: "She's not giving us anything."

But Ms Bentley threw on a hoodie and rushed outside with no socks or shoes. The prosecutor said: "She ran as fast as she could to the street. She was shouting for help. She did not look back."

The pensioner managed to get under a garage door at another house and raise the alarm. As for the defendant, he fled in his brother Terry's car.

He threw away a walkie talkie, blue gloves and a screwdriver or paint scraper as they drove to their mother's house. Reed's partner said he had been smoking a "crack pipe" that evening.

Reed later admitted "robbing an old lady" but claimed evidence had been planted and he had been "framed", said the prosecutor. No knife was seen and no money was taken, the court heard.

In a victim statement Ms Bentley, who worked as an NHS nurse for 30 years, said it was "the first time she has ever had to run in fear of her life". It took "all her strength to escape" and she has nightmares and flashbacks.

She is terrified of being on her own now and struggles to sleep. She is anxious and while on an escalator recently struck out at a man who "came too close".

She did not hit him and explained to him it was a "coping mechanism" for her after the March raid. Simon Killeen, defending, accepted there had been planning by Reed but insisted it had not been a sophisticated crime as he had left behind "a plethora of DNA".

Reed, of no fixed address, was recalled to prison after his arrest and has served 18 months before today's sentencing hearing. He has a mental disorder and is "almost institutionalised", he added.

In custody he has taken an overdose and been assaulted twice causing multiple fractures and a dislocated shoulder. But the judge Her Honour Nicola Saffman noted Reed had previously robbed an 81-year-old woman and a mother with her child and caused Ms Bentley serious psychological harm.

The judge, sitting at Llandudno Magistrates Court during repairs to the Caernarfon courts building, said there is a "significant risk" that he will re-offend. Imposing the ten-year jail term, she said he must serve two thirds before he will be eligible to apply for parole. Then he will be on an extended licence period for four years.

Detective Constable Leslie Ellis said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their home. This was a traumatic experience for the victim, who was violently beaten whilst she slept in her bed.

“The victim was a popular member of her community, who served valiantly as a nurse for over 30 years before retiring. She was fun with a bubbly personality and had a real zest for life, but since the incident her health continues to suffer significantly.

“The actions of Carl Reed were immeasurable and cannot be underestimated, it has had a devastating impact on her life. Although no sentence will reflect the everlasting trauma experienced by the victim, I commend her bravery throughout the investigation."

DC Ellis also thanked the Holyhead community for their help in "bringing Carl Reed to justice".

Find crime figures for your area