Andrew Aston

Case overview

Andrew Aston was born 22 November 1972 in Birmingham, England. He attacked elderly and disabled residents in their homes during robberies in Birmingham and nearby Smethwick/Sandwell during approximately three months in early 2001.

Investigators said Aston frequently used deception to gain entry, often posing as a police officer or using another pretext. He then assaulted and robbed his victims. Investigators said the attacks became progressively more violent.

Two victims died from injuries linked to Aston’s attacks: George Dale, 87, and Francis “Frank” Hobley, 80.

Aston was convicted on 20 February 2002 of two murders, 20 robberies and four assaults. He received 26 concurrent terms of life imprisonment.

Timeline

• 5 April 2001 — Aston was charged with George Dale’s murder.
• 20 February 2002 — Aston was convicted of two murders, 20 robberies and four assaults and was sentenced to 26 concurrent terms of life imprisonment.
• 27 March 2001 — One account placed Aston’s arrest while he was attacking another elderly man in his home.
• 30 March 2001 — One account placed the attack on George Dale on this date.
• 10 June 2001 — Frank Hobley died from pneumonia, heart failure and blood clots linked to the hip injury sustained during the attack.
• 8 days after the attack — One account says George Dale died eight days after the attack.
• Approximately two weeks after the attack — Another account says George Dale died in hospital about two weeks after the attack.
• April 2001 — Aston appeared before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court charged with George Dale’s murder and numerous additional offences.
• January 2002 — Aston went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
• Late March 2001 — Aston was arrested while attacking another elderly man in his home.
• 25 March 2001 — Aston called at the Stechford bungalow of Francis “Frank” Hobley and his wife, Freda.
• 16 March 2001 — One account reported the attack on George Dale on this date.

The offence

Aston carried out home invasions targeting elderly and disabled residents. He used deception to enter their homes, often pretending to be a police officer. He then beat and robbed his victims.

George Dale

Accounts gave differing dates for the attack on George Dale. One account reported 16 March 2001, while another placed it on 30 March 2001.

Aston entered the Ladywood home shared by George Dale and his wife, Betty Dale, 86. Betty became suspicious and asked to see identification. Aston then attacked George with an iron bar and fled with a camera and a bag of papers. Betty was also injured but survived.

George suffered a broken neck, a severed spinal cord, paralysis from the chest down and severe facial injuries. One account said he died in hospital approximately two weeks after the attack; another said he died eight days later.

Aston was questioned about the attack three days after it occurred. The attack caused considerable public outrage. A memorial appeal organised with the Dale family raised nearly £4,400 for equipment at City Hospital’s critical-care unit.

Aston was later charged with George Dale’s murder on 5 April 2001.

Frank Hobley

On 25 March 2001, Aston called at the Stechford bungalow of Francis “Frank” Hobley and his wife, Freda. He asked for directions. He forced his way inside when the couple answered the door.

Frank, a Second World War veteran who had served at Dunkirk, in Burma and in India, attempted to resist Aston with his walking stick. Aston overpowered him and struck him with a bat or brush, causing a broken hip and other injuries.

Frank died on 10 June 2001 from pneumonia, heart failure and blood clots. Pathologists linked his death to the hip injury sustained during the attack. Aston was subsequently charged with his murder.

Investigation and arrest

Aston was described as a drug addict.

Aston was arrested in late March 2001 while attacking another elderly man in his home. One account stated that the victim was a 92-year-old man and gave the arrest date as 27 March 2001.

Another account identified the victim as William Dorman of Sheldon and said police caught Aston during the attack after placing him under surveillance for three days.

After George Dale’s murder charge, Aston later faced additional offences. Aston appeared before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court in April 2001 charged with George Dale’s murder and numerous additional offences. After Frank Hobley’s death, a second murder charge was added. Aston was eventually charged over attacks and robberies involving another 24 elderly or disabled victims.

Trial

Aston went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court in January 2002. By that point, six of the people he had attacked had died, although only the deaths of George Dale and Frank Hobley formed the murder charges.

Another six victims were reportedly too frail to testify in court. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Aston had robbed 20 pensioners and assaulted four others during the series of raids.

Jurors deliberated for just under six hours before finding him guilty.

Sentencing

On 20 February 2002, Aston was convicted of:

• Two counts of murder
• Twenty robberies
• Four assaults

The sentence was described at the time as the greatest number of life sentences imposed on one person in England and Wales.

No recommended minimum term was publicly reported when he was sentenced. The available text did not establish whether a fixed minimum term was later set by the Home Office or High Court.

Contemporary reports suggested that Aston was unlikely to be released for a very long time, if ever.

Outcome

Aston’s conviction resulted in life imprisonment, with 26 concurrent life sentences imposed on 20 February 2002.