OAP robbed girl, 95, to pay for his funeral and created ‘assist bury me’ GoFundMe
A pensioner who knew he would die soon tied up a 95-year-old woman and robbed her to help raise money for his own funeral, something he said he didn’t want to burden his family with
Edwin Morrison has been jailed(Image: Facebook)
A pensioner facing financial difficulties who robbed a 95-year-old woman in her own home in an attempt to fund his own funeral has been jailed for seven years.
Edwin Morrison, 81, a retired pharmacy courier, strangled the woman while shouting, “give me your money” before binding her hands with cable ties. As she pleaded with him to stop, saying she could not breathe, Morrison told her to “shut up”.
Manchester Crown Court heard that Morrison left the property in Little Hulton, Salford, without stealing anything after being interrupted by the arrival of the victim’s mobile hairdresser. He had targeted the elderly woman after previously visiting her home to deliver medication during his former job.
Morrison, who had no prior convictions, retired at 75 and was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer in May 2024. Prosecutors said he had been regularly gambling at a local bookmaker’s in the months leading up to the attack on 27 January 2026, reports ITV.
A psychiatric report found that by the end of 2025, Morrison was suffering from a “depressive disorder”. In what was described as a mix of “depression and despair”, he decided to end his life in February while his partner was away.
His barrister, Nick Clarke, said Morrison did not want to leave his family with the financial burden of paying for his funeral.
On New Year’s Day, Morrison created a GoFundMe page titled “Help to bury me”, in which he explained his situation, writing: “More or less been told to go in a corner and see my time out. I have no money to cover funeral costs and other incidentals.”
Mr Clarke told the court: “The GoFundMe page was unsuccessful…so he came up with this particular scheme, which in his mind would not be complicated and not cause the problems that it did.
“He was utterly selfish and self-centred – for perhaps the first time in his life – in committing this offence.
“He is remorseful for what he has done. It is submitted that no real harm was intended. The motivation for this offending was altruistic rather than malicious.”
In a victim personal statement, the woman said: “I thought I was going to die.” The court heard that shortly after the attack began, mobile hairdresser Michaela Nelson arrived for her regular appointment and let herself into the property.
Prosecutor Mr Smith said: “Ms Nelson went into the lounge and saw an old man sitting in front of the victim and assumed he was a friend.
“(The victim) shouted at her to call the police and she at first thought it was a joke.”
Morrison then raised his hands as if to grab the hairdresser by the throat, prompting her to run from the house. He fled shortly afterwards. Police arrived soon after and traced Morrison to his home using the movements of his Peugeot.
He was charged on January 30 with multiple offences and remanded in custody. In March, he pleaded guilty to a single count of attempted robbery. Prosecutors asked for additional charges of false imprisonment and intentional strangulation to remain on file.
Judge Peter Horgan adjourned sentencing to allow for a pre-sentence report assessing Morrison’s dangerousness and to gather further details about his health.
He told Morrison: “You know there will be an immediate sentence of custody in this case. The only question is how long.”
