Margaret Briers

Margaret Briers died after an intruder forced his way into her home pretending to be a police officer.

She suffered from a heart attack following the ordeal and died in hospital.

Eight people were arrested in connection with her murder, but no one was charged.

A photofit of the intruder was later handed out by the police. He had been wearing a peaked hat and dark blue SWAT type clothes. He was described as:

• White.
• Mid-30s.
• 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall.
• Slim build.
• Short brown hair.
• Clean shaven.
• Sharp features.
• Wearing a navy blue peaked cap and a coat which was buttoned up with dirty-looking brown shoes and gloves.

Margaret Briers had lived in a bungalow in Caldbeck Grove, Carr Mill. The man had forced his way into her bungalow under the pretence of being a police officer on the night of Sunday 30 March 2008. When Margaret Briers had opened her door, she had let him in thinking he was a policeman, however, he then threatened her and demanded money after which he knocked her down and dragged her into the living room of her bungalow.

She was left lying on the floor with a broken hip for 12 hours until her daughter found her.

The intruder had taken an emergency alarm from around her neck and disconnected her phone.

He had searched her house for money but fled with only £15 from her cash tin.

After Margaret Briers was found she was taken to Whiston Hospital where she died three days later. She had broken her femur. She had also contracted bronchitis from lying on the cold kitchen floor.

Her post mortem stated that she died from heart failure brought on by blood loss due to her fractured hip.

Her family had known her as nanny Peggy.