Pensioner admits attempted rape of 92-year-old woman

AN elderly man yesterday admitted the attempted rape of a 92-year-old friend of his estranged wife.

Cyril Hewitt, 81, had done odd jobs at the home of Gertrude Lang, a partially-sighted and frail old woman. But one night, almost 11 years ago, he disguised his identity and attacked the defenceless pensioner in her home in what police called “an appalling way”. He then played the part of the concerned friend when contacted by Lang’s family afterwards and even went back to the house, apparently to help her, police said.

He was charged last December, nearly a decade after the assault in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, on January 7, 2000. Lang died in November 2005, without seeing her attacker brought to justice.

Speaking after Hewitt pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court yesterday, Mick Flavin of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit’s cold case review team, said: “The nature of this crime is absolutely abhorrent, even by the standards of some of the cases we are involved in.

“Though an active and intelligent lady, Mrs Lang was 92 years old, only 4ft 7in tall at the time of the offence, partially-sighted and frail.

“She stood no chance of defending herself against Hewitt when he came knocking on her door.

“Hewitt’s estranged wife had been a good friend and loyal carer to Mrs Lang over the years and Hewitt had done odd jobs at her house.

“Why he suddenly decided to disguise his identity and assault her in such an appalling way is still a mystery. Even more chilling is the way that he then posed as a concerned friend.”

Charges of indecent assault, robbery and possession of an imitation firearm were dropped, said a court official who confirmed the guilty plea.

Hewitt emerged as a suspect after detectives spent more than a year reviewing files of evidence from 2000.

They were able to link him to the attack using DNA evidence.

Flavin added: “We never close a case of this nature, no matter how long it takes us to solve it. Someone who knows they are guilty of a serious crime will have to look over their shoulder for the rest of their lives.”