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Red tape threatens to remove a man with Down's syndrome from his elderly mother

An elderly mother and her disabled son are at risk of being separated over the woman's aged care home's red tape. Anne Deans, 81, moved into an aged care facility in July and hoped that she would be able to bring her son, Mark, who suffers from Down's syndrome with her. Mark, 56, has always lived with his mother, and despite his disability, has lived a full life and has dabbled in acting, appearing on Aussie TV hit Blue Heelers. But now, the mother and son have been left in limbo by a bureaucratic battle. Despite the family's history and Mark's disability, the government refuses to fund a place for Mark at Anne's aged care home, stating that aged care is "not an appropriate service for people aged under 65". "People with Down's syndrome have a life expectancy of 60 years. That's if we're lucky. So Mark is experiencing all of the age issues that my Mum is," Mark's sister Sharon said. Sharon and her sister Michelle have been lobbying on Mark's behalf, with Michelle saying, "I don't know why it's so hard. There's so much red tape." "There's so many hills to jump, just to have a mum and a son together. It doesn't make any sense." Anne is digging in and appealing to the Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells for help. "I brought him up all these years, and all of a sudden someone's going to walk in and take him out," Anne told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/victoria-red-tape-threatens-to-tear-man-with-disability-from-his-mum/df4ef75b-6df1-4507-8a73-dfae0b258e08" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "It is damn ridiculous. They should open up their eyes and see what it's doing. He's not going anywhere. I don't know how I'm going to stop it, but I will." In a statement, Ms Wells said, "While Aged Care is generally not suitable for people under the age of 65, we recognise there are exceptional circumstances where people may need to enter aged care before this age, including when there is no suitable accommodation for them." "The New Aged care Act includes exceptional circumstances for people to enter Aged Care before they turn 65, including when they would otherwise be at risk of homelessness." "There are processes in place to support people to explore their options and ensure they have safe and appropriate accommodation." "We encourage Mark to continue to work with Ability First Australia and the Aged Care Assessment Teams to explore all the options." Image credits: A Current Affair

Family & Pets

"Almost proud of himself": Elderly man condemned for keying Tesla in broad daylight

An elderly man has sparked outrage after being caught on camera keying a stranger’s Tesla in a Woolworths car park in Queanbeyan, near the ACT-NSW border. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has led to widespread condemnation online. The Tesla’s owner, David Shannon, shared the footage of the incident on Facebook, asking the public for help in identifying the man responsible for the damage. “Is anyone familiar with this man? He keyed my car at Woolworths,” Shannon wrote in a local community group, attaching a video of the act. The footage shows the elderly man casually walking past the Tesla, dragging a set of keys along the car's side. After causing the damage, he pauses to inspect his handiwork before walking away. Shannon clarified in his post that his vehicle was not parked in a disabled spot, referencing the adjacent sign to avoid any misunderstandings. “This is not going to be a cheap fix and I’d love the opportunity to ask him nicely what drove him to this,” Shannon expressed. He later <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13878489/Key-car-Woolworths-Queanbeyan-Canberra.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed to the Daily Mail</a> that the repairs would cost approximately $3,000. Though the motive for the attack remains unclear, Shannon speculated that the man may hold a grudge against electric vehicles. Many on social media were quick to criticise the elderly man’s actions, with some expressing disgust at the moment when he appeared to “admire” the damage. “Can’t believe someone would do that!” one commenter exclaimed, while another called the act “absolutely disgusting.” “It’s scary that he stands back to admire his handy work. Almost proud of himself,” another added. Calls for legal action have grown, with many urging Shannon to report the incident to authorities. “He needs to be held accountable and pay for the damage to the car,” one person insisted. Another lamented, “This man gives baby boomers a bad name and bad reputation!” NSW Police have confirmed that they have launched an investigation following reports of vehicle damage at the shopping centre on Crawford Street, Queanbeyan. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information or CCTV footage to contact Crime Stoppers to assist in their investigation. Images: Facebook

Legal

Our research shows 4 in 10 Australians in aged care are malnourished. What can we do about it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-foo-1551045">Jonathan Foo</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marie-claire-oshea-1373994">Marie-Claire O'Shea</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> In the next 40 years <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/p2023-435150-fs.pdf">in Australia</a>, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. If you’re not really interested in aged care, you should be. Given these figures, you will almost certainly be engaging with aged care services at some stage – either for yourself, or supporting family members or friends seeking aged care. One service you are likely to encounter is residential aged care homes. In the past few years this sector has been under more scrutiny than ever before. Changes to legislation, workforce and funding are in motion. But the question remains as to whether these changes can happen fast enough to meet our ageing population’s needs. One area of need not being adequately met at present is nutrition. In a <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/13/1296">new study</a>, we’ve found four in ten older Australians living in residential aged care are not receiving enough of the right types of nutrients, resulting in loss of weight and muscle. This is known as malnutrition. <h2>Good nutrition is essential for healthy ageing</h2> Malnutrition in older people is <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/food-nutrition-dining/why-meals-matter">associated with</a> poorer overall health, such as increased risk of falls and infections. This can accelerate loss of independence for older people, including the need for extra assistance with basic activities such as bathing and dressing. Older people are at increased risk of <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02612-5/abstract">malnutrition</a> for a range of reasons. These can include decreased appetite, difficulties with chewing and swallowing, and the presence of other chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia. Importantly, ensuring adequate nutrition is about more than just offering healthy foods. We eat not only to meet nutritional requirements, but for enjoyment and socialisation. We each have different preferences around what we want to eat, when and with whom. Food provision poses a challenge for residential aged care providers who must navigate the range of residents’ preferences together with dietary restrictions and texture modifications. This must also be balanced against the practicalities of having the right number of appropriately trained kitchen and mealtime assistance staff, and working within funding constraints. Understanding more about who is malnourished in aged care can help providers better address this problem. <h2>Malnutrition is an ongoing problem in aged care</h2> We looked at more than 700 aged care residents in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. We assessed participants for malnutrition using a screening tool that collects data on medical history and dietary intake, and includes a physical examination of muscle and fat. We found 40% were malnourished, including 6% who were severely malnourished. This likely underestimates the true rate of malnutrition, as residents with dementia were excluded. International <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/13/2927">studies</a> have shown an average of 80% of aged care residents with dementia are malnourished or at risk of developing malnutrition. Our findings are broadly in line with a synthesis of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512219301148">38 international studies</a>, which reported an average malnutrition rate in residential aged care of 52%. In Australia, malnutrition was highlighted as <a href="https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care">a priority</a> for immediate attention in the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Its report cited <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/dairy-food-supplementation-may-reduce-malnutrition-risk-in-institutionalised-elderly/52E93ADD586C634A3913A2AFE9D07847">an Australian study</a> of 215 residents, published in 2017, which found 68% were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. It’s difficult to directly compare malnutrition rates between studies due to differences in diagnostic measurements. But it’s clear malnutrition is an ongoing challenge in aged care. <h2>What can we do about it?</h2> Since the royal commission, we’ve seen the strengthening of the <a href="https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/providers/quality-standards/strengthened-quality-standards">quality standards</a> to be included in the new Aged Care Act, anticipated to be introduced to parliament in 2025. The strengthened quality standards provide an important framework to guide action by aged care providers on malnutrition. Key requirements include partnering with residents to design food options, regular assessment and reassessment of resident nutrition requirements, developing systems to monitor and improve satisfaction with food, designing pleasant dining environments, and providing staff with the training they need to achieve all of the above. However, achieving these standards will require investment of money and time. At the moment, <a href="https://kpmg.com/au/en/home/insights/2023/09/australian-aged-care-sector-analysis.html">64% of residential aged care providers</a> in Australia are operating at a financial loss. While we know carers and facility managers want to provide the best care possible, it’s difficult to achieve this when contending with underlying financial problems. As such, our teams at Monash and Griffith universities are focusing on strategies that minimise the burden on staff and providers. We are working on automating malnutrition screening. Current tools take 10–15 minutes and should be used when a new resident moves into an aged care home and regularly during their stay. But anecdotal evidence suggests providers lack the staff and funding needed to routinely carry out this screening. Instead, we aim to use existing data from aged care providers, including quarterly reports from the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/qi-program">National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program</a>, to detect malnutrition automatically. This will allow staff to focus more on care. Given the complexity of malnutrition, it’s likely that addressing the issue at a national scale will take some time. In the short term, for those with loved ones in aged care homes, we encourage you to be actively involved in their care, including noticing and speaking up if you think more can be done to optimise their nutrition.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/235507/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jonathan-foo-1551045">Jonathan Foo</a>, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marie-claire-oshea-1373994">Marie-Claire O'Shea</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/griffith-university-828">Griffith University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/our-research-shows-4-in-10-australians-in-aged-care-are-malnourished-what-can-we-do-about-it-235507">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Police officer charged after allegedly punching 70-year-old woman

A Victorian police officer has been stood down from duty after he allegedly punched a 70-year-old woman while in hospital. Sylvia Villani was being treated at the Northern Hospital in April when the alleged assault took place, and she said it came out of nowhere. "I threw a bit of bread on the ground. I had my leg in a plaster," Villani told 9News. "I was in a wheelchair and he punched me," she claimed. After the alleged attack, she sustained a broken eye socket. "I can't walk, I can't sit, I'm buggered," she said. "I don't know why he did it. "I did call him some nasty names, I wasn't happy, (but) I didn't deserve it." Villani's son, Rick, told 9News that he was only alerted about the incident after receiving a call from doctors who told him that three police officers went to the hospital for a separate incident before his mother was allegedly assaulted. He claimed that his family has been left in the dark. "I know my mum's got mental health, and she's not perfect," he said. "They've treated me, my wife and my mother with no respect." Victoria Police have stood down the 26-year-old male officer who was on duty when the incident occurred, after an internal investigation. The officer has been charged with one count of recklessly causing injury and will appear before court on September 9. Images: Nine

Caring

"Tax the boomers": Outrage over elderly couple's complaint after $1m Lotto win

A "greedy" elderly couple have been rinsed online after complaining about losing their age pension payments after they won the Lotto. The couple, aged 73 and 67, wrote into <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/we-won-the-lottery-but-lost-our-pension-could-we-have-prevented-this-20240702-p5jqga.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a>'s financial advice column with Noel Whittaker to ask how they could've prevented losing the government funds and still kept hold of their million-dollar winnings. The couple's submission read, "We are a couple... both retired and receiving the full aged pension. We recently won $1,000,000 in the lottery and have placed that money in a basic interest-bearing savings account with our bank." "We intend to use that money to buy a new house and sell our existing one but may just renovate. The windfall has stopped our pension completely until we spend the money, which is all good and well. But could we have prevented the pension loss in any way?" Whittaker responded that the couple should consider themselves extremely fortunate and enjoy the money, saying they "could have a far better lifestyle living off capital instead of relying on welfare". He also urged the couple not "spend to get a pension". The boomers' questions quickly drew attention online, with many flocking to Facebook comments to slam the couple for their "greed". One person wrote, "If you won the lotto, why would you want the pension?", while another added, "Ah yes, the call of the boomers everywhere, 'I have millions but where's my pension money?'" Others said the Lotto winners should consider themselves lucky they are now able to provide for themselves, with one person writing, "Pension is a support system to allow you to survive without/reduced work in retirement. If you are a multimillionaire then you don't need it." Another person echoed the sentiment, saying, "Wow, what entitlement. The pension is a safety net, if you don’t qualify for it think yourself lucky." Other social media users simply shared their outrage towards the boomer generation, as one frustrated person wrote, "Won a million and whinging they can't scam the taxpayers, what self-centered arrogance", while another added, "Tax the boomers! No more handouts." Image credits: Shutterstock <div class="x6s0dn4 x3nfvp2" style="font-family: inherit; align-items: center; display: inline-flex; min-width: 604px;"> <ul class="html-ul xe8uvvx xdj266r x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1n0m28w x78zum5 x1wfe3co xat24cr xsgj6o6 x1o1nzlu xyqdw3p" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px -8px 0px 4px; padding: 3px 0px 0px; display: flex; min-height: 15px; line-height: 12px; caret-color: #1c1e21; color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, '.SFNSText-Regular', sans-serif; font-size: 12.000001px;" aria-hidden="false"> <li class="html-li xe8uvvx xdj266r xat24cr xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1rg5ohu x1emribx x1i64zmx" style="list-style: none; display: inline-block; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 8px;"> </li> </ul> </div>

Retirement Income

Elderly driver hailed a hero amid fatal bus tragedy

An elderly driver has been hailed a hero for saving lives after getting caught up in a horror crash between a Greyhound bus and a car towing a caravan. The accident left three women dead and 27 other passengers injured, after the coach allegedly veered onto the opposite side of the Bruce Highway at Gumlu, in north Queensland at around 11am on Sunday. The coach was travelling between Brisbane and Townsville, with 33 people onboard when it collided with a caravan towed by a 4WD. The elderly couple, who were in the 4WD were miraculously not injured. Witnesses have praised the elderly male driver for his quick-thinking skills, when he drove his vehicle out of the way of the oncoming bus - which saved the lives of people driving behind him. "He was a hero for his actions," Janice Beavis told the Daily Mail. “They [the elderly couple] were behaving safely. The bus hit the van, the driver [of the 4WD] was trying to get away. “He saved himself and his wife and the mum and three girls travelling behind him.” 56-year-old Townsville woman, Emma ‘Alli’ Sailor, and two German women aged in their 20s and 30s sadly passed away in the crash. Four people remain in hospital, including two men in their 20s who are fighting for their lives, and two other men, aged 27 and 51, who are in stable conditions. The bus was reportedly running behind schedule, leaving Rockhampton at 2am instead of the planned departure time at 12:45. The speed limit at the section of the highway where the accident occurred was 100km/h. Detectives are investigating whether fatigue could have played a role in the crash. “We haven’t determined any factors that have contributed to the crash at this stage, but certainly a crash of this nature, involving this many people, is a very significant, very tragic incident for us,” Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said at a press conference on Sunday. Anyone who may have seen the crash or have dashcam footage have been urged to contact police. On Monday morning, Police Superintendent Paine said that more witnesses will be interviewed to determine the cause of the crash. “We’ve collected a significant amount of evidence from the scene,” he said. “As we process that evidence and interview further witnesses, we anticipate getting a clearer picture of exactly how it occurred." Image: news.com.au

Travel Trouble

Telstra giving free phones to elderly and remote

With the 3G network set to shut down completely on August 31, Telstra announced that it will be giving 12,000 mobile phones away for free in a bid to help the most vulnerable customers switch to 4G. Starting from Tuesday, the telecommunications company will be issuing complimentary phones to customers who are elderly, live rurally or are facing difficult situations. These include those facing financial issues, recovering from natural disasters, or those who have a life-threatening medical condition and therefore rely on a working phone. Telstra have also identified those who live regionally or are over 80 years old and may require extra transition support, as they may have difficulty accessing a physical store to make the switch. Those who are flagged as eligible will be contacted by the telco company, and they are encouraging customers who receive the message to follow the instructions given to make the switch. Major Brendan Nottle from The Salvation Army has praised this initiative for helping the "most vulnerable members of our community." “Connection is one of the most important things to maintain in our society, whether it is with friends and family or with housing and support services,” he said. “Ensuring that every Australian, from any background or level of income, can take part in our modern digital society is crucial. “A phone can be a gateway to social inclusion, community connection and support, and with the upcoming closure of 3G networks in Australia it is important for us to reach out and ensure that this can continue for everyone.” Customers who are yet to upgrade are also told to make the switch sooner than later. Other devices that will be affected by the shutdown include certain smart watches, tablets, medical alarms, EFTPOS terminals and security monitors. Images: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Boomers vs. Bikers: Teens and elderly residents face off over bike rules

A tense intergenerational argument has broken out in Sydney's Northern Beaches, as a group of seniors stopped two teenagers from riding their electric bikes on a footpath. The incident was captured on camera by a bystander and uploaded to social media with the caption, "Battle of the beaches. E-bikes vs. elderly", before quickly going viral. The video shows elderly man and woman standing outside a dental centre in the suburb of Mona Vale, stopping the youths from riding any further and are seen holding the bike as the teens appear to argue for their release. After the video garnered much attention, hundreds of people shared their thoughts on who was in the right. Many appear to have taken the side of the senior citizens, but in this case, with the teen’s ages not immediately clear, both parties could have a case. According to the<a title="www.nsw.gov.au" href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-safety-and-rules/bicycle-safety-and-rules/cyclist-road-rules#:~:text=Riding%20on%20a%20footpath,under%20the%20age%20of%2016"> New South Wales Government</a>, cyclists (on both pedal or electric bikes) are not allowed to ride on a footpath. However, children under 16 can ride on the footpath unless there is a “NO BICYCLES” sign. In the comment section, plenty of arguments backed the case of the seniors. “Elderly are right; it’s a footpath, it’s dangerous. Annoying they drive fast,” one wrote. Another said: “Look I don’t know what happened, but yesterday (kids) similar to these guys were zooming on an E-bike at a dog park, almost hit us, no bells or anything and off the path. If you have these, just stay on the road.” Others, however, were quick to side with the teens, as one person wrote, “Entitled old people thinking they are the police.” Another added, “Boomers need to admit they are bored and have nothing to do.” Image credits: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Elderly couple left stranded by cruise ship

An elderly American couple was left behind by a Norwegian Cruise Line while on holiday in Spain this week. Richard and Claudene Gordon- aged 84 and 81 - were on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the Norwegian Viva with plans to celebrate Richard's birthday before things went downhill. The couple decided to take an independent excursion by themselves while the ship was docked in Motril, Spain, but on their return, their bus was delayed for an hour due to poor weather, so they ran late for the 5:30pm all-aboard time ahead of a scheduled 6pm departure. “I am a very experienced traveler and have probably been on as many as 30 cruises during my lifetime,” Richard told CNN. “Never before have we ever missed catching a ship on time at a port. So we are not someone who abuses the system.” Richard claimed that at 5:45pm they notified a relative on board who raised the alarm that they were nearby and running late, but nothing could be done at that point as the ship had to leave on time. By the time the couple arrived at 6:10pm, the boat had left the harbour, but Richard claimed that the cruise line had a tendency to depart behind schedule, and made no attempt to contact them until late Tuesday. “Our cruise began in Lisbon and we departed from Lisbon about one and a half hours after the scheduled departure at 4pm,” he claimed. “Then the next night or two, at least a half-hour late from the dock, so it is clear that they do not always leave on the exact moment scheduled.” The couple were left stranded without their medication, eyeglasses and spare hearing aid batteries, which were left on board. Their daughter ended up having to book her parents a flight to Palma de Mallorca, where the boat was making its next call Wednesday morning, according to the publication. By the time the couple got to Mallorca, they were met with "a beautiful black BMW limousine" which took them back to their ship. "There we were met by the head of ship services who escorted us inside the ship to meet the general manager of the ship, then they escorted us to breakfast, then they escorted us to our cabin.They said they have already complained about the harbour master who was supposed to take care of things for them. "But of course the ship had not contacted us directly for two days so that doesn’t speak so well for them.” The Norwegian Cruise Line disputed the couple’s account of what happened. “After several attempts to contact these guests with the phone numbers provided, as well as trying to phone their emergency contact, we were unable to speak to them directly. However, we worked closely with the local port agents to make arrangements for the guests to rejoin the vessel,” a spokesperson said. “It is important to note that a delayed departure has the potential to impact the ship’s ability to deliver its planned itinerary and thus influence the experience for all guests on-board. While this was a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.” Image: Getty

Travel Trouble

New twist in real identity of "elderly" shoplifter

New details have emerged after an "elderly" woman was photographed after allegedly being targeted by police for <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/old-woman-targeted-and-accused-of-shoplifting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shoplifting</a>. The original photo, which was shared to X, showed an older woman standing outside a Coles supermarket, while two officers sifted through her groceries to check she wasn't stealing. The post garnered widespread outrage, with many people leaping to the woman's defence and calling for people to "boycott Woolies and Coles". Now, it turns out that the shopper wasn't an old woman at all, but a 32-year-old woman dressing to appear older. According to reports from <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/new-twist-after-photo-of-elderly-coles-shopper-being-stopped-by-police-sparks-furious-reaction-c-14356492" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>, the woman was impersonating an elderly shopper during the trip to Coles and was discovered with a significant amount of groceries. Victoria Police confirmed they were called to the supermarket, and issued the woman with a caution for shoplifting. “Police responded to reports of shoplifting at a centre in Richmond about 3.30pm on 17 April,” police said. “Officers arrived to discover a woman had been detained on the ground by a loss prevention officer employed by the store. Police separated the parties and spoke with a 32-year-old woman from Glenroy who was cautioned for shoplifting.” In the initial post to social media, the bystander took aim at Coles and Victoria Police for targeting the shopper, who they believed was elderly, describing her apprehension as “forcible”. “I told the police that I’ll pay for her food and let her go and then I got threatened with being arrested for ‘obstructing police’,”the X user said In further posts, the bystander made even more serious allegations about the incident. “When I intervened to help the lady I then got threatened by the police of being arrested for ‘obstructing a police matter’,” they posted. Image credits: X (Twitter)

Legal

Hall of Fame fighter hospitalised after saving elderly parents from fire

In the heart of Ohio, a story of heroism and sacrifice has emerged from the flames of a devastating house fire. Mark Coleman, a revered figure in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), found himself in the midst of a harrowing ordeal, where his actions transcended the octagon to demonstrate unparalleled bravery and love for family. On a fateful Tuesday morning, as the dawn painted the sky over Fremont, Ohio, tragedy struck the Coleman household. Details of the fire initially emerged through local news outlets, shrouded in anonymity. However, it wasn't long before the truth surfaced – it was Mark Coleman, the UFC legend, who had selflessly rushed into the inferno to rescue his elderly parents from imminent danger. Reports indicated that Coleman, aged 59, wasted no time in the face of adversity. With unwavering determination, he courageously carried both of his parents, Dan and Connie Foos Coleman, to safety, braving the engulfing flames that threatened to consume their home. Yet, his valour knew no bounds as he plunged back into the fiery abyss, driven by an instinctive urge to save another beloved member of the family – their loyal dog, Hammer. Tragically, despite his desperate efforts, the canine companion did not survive the blaze. Coleman's daughter, Kenzie, revealed on social media that Hammer's persistent barking had roused her father from slumber, ultimately saving his life. This heartbreaking loss added another layer of sorrow to an already traumatic event. As news of Coleman's heroic act spread, an outpouring of support and prayers flooded social media platforms. His second daughter Morgan, in an emotional Instagram post, recounted her father's selfless deeds and pleaded for continued prayers during this trying time. To the Coleman family, Mark wasn't just a UFC pioneer; he was a beacon of strength and resilience, a cherished father and a beloved friend. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4bQHaopteq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4bQHaopteq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Morgan Coleman (@mocoleman18)</a> </div> </blockquote> Mark Coleman's legacy in the world of MMA is undeniable. Dubbed "The Godfather of Ground-and-Pound", he etched his name in the annals of UFC history as the organisation's inaugural heavyweight champion in 1997. His contributions to the sport earned him a well-deserved place in the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008, solidifying his status as a true icon. However, beyond the glitz and glory of the octagon, Coleman's journey has been marked by personal struggles and triumphs. In 2020, he battled a heart attack, a testament to his resilience in the face of adversity. A year later, he confronted his demons, seeking rehabilitation for alcoholism, and emerged stronger, embracing a healthier lifestyle. Author Jonathan Snowden, who shared a close bond with Coleman and was poised to document his remarkable life story, offered a glimpse into the aftermath of the fire. Through poignant images capturing the devastation, Snowden provided a raw and unfiltered portrayal of the ordeal. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is what's left of the house Mark Coleman and his family were in last night. Mark's dog Hammer woke him up to a house in flames. He saved both his parents and is fighting for his life. <a href="https://t.co/hicYhv7SDm">pic.twitter.com/hicYhv7SDm</a> — Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JESnowden/status/1767637195555299781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2024</a></blockquote> Images: Instagram / Twitter (X)

Caring

Shocking twist on teen accused of pushing elderly man off pier

Just hours after a 14-year-old boy was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/teenager-arrested-after-shoving-elderly-man-off-pier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested for allegedly shoving an elderly man </a>off the Mornington Peninsula pier, the teenager has been accused of previously assaulting a woman. Jamie Tilbrook, 35, was allegedly bashed by the same group of teens who pushed the 79-year-old off the pier. Shocking CCTV footage of the alleged attack showed two boys throwing a series of punches towards Ms Tilbrook's head in broad daylight, after she confronted them for vandalising a bus and tipping bins over. "I said, 'What the f--- are you doing?' They turn around and jump me," she said. "Two boys just come and started smashing me in the head. I was telling my girlfriend to get away, like, I didn't want her to get attacked." The 35-year-old had to be rushed to hospital after losing consciousness and spent a night at The Alfred, where doctors had to glue her wound shut. Ms Tilbrook told 9News that she no longer goes out and night and has to constantly watch her back after the alleged assault. The incident came just two months before the alleged attack of the elderly man, and the 14-year-old boy was on bail when he pushed the man off the pier. Ms Tilbrook revealed she was "disgusted" that the same boy who was charged after allegedly assaulting her, was now accused of pushing a fisherman off the pier. His friends had filmed the horrific incident before posting it online. <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-news-teen-who-allegedly-pushed-elderly-man-off-melbourne-pier-was-on-bail/db6c8d5e-7e49-4ccc-ab47-cb4738979dc6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9News</a> revealed that the teenager has since been charged over the assault and allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He will reportedly face children's court at a later date. Images: 9News

Legal

Teenager arrested after shoving elderly man off pier

A teenager has been arrested after a disgraceful assault on an elderly man, which saw the teen push the man off a pier and into the water. The 79-year-old was walking along the pier at Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula on Sunday night, when he was targeted by a group of three teenagers. Filming the assault, the teenagers laughed as one boy approached the elderly man and shoved him off the pier and into the water below. The teens ran away laughing, and later uploaded the footage of the incident to social media. Mornington Peninsula MP, Chris Crewther slammed the actions of the group and told the Today show that the man was not a strong swimmer and could have drowned if it wasn't for two bystanders who jumped into the water to save him. "It is disgraceful, appalling and cowardly behaviour," he said. "I know that this man is highly shaken and traumatised by the event and fortunately, I understand he wasn't seriously injured, but it would take a while to recover from this mentally and emotionally." A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful assault over the incident. Crewther confirmed the other two boys involved in the attack are known to police, given that the footage of the shoving was uploaded to their personal social media accounts. "Obviously they were wanting some notoriety and to show their exploits on social media, which has actually got them in trouble now because they've identified themselves," he said. "The Police know who they are and are asking the victim to come forward to give a statement so that these three can be charged to the fullest extent and hopefully they will be punished." Image credits: Instagram

News

Elderly woman reduced to tears by irate postie

Australia Post is investigating an incident of extreme road rage, after a postie reduced an elderly woman to tears. The postman was driving a three-wheeled electric delivery vehicle on the Gold Coast on Monday morning, when an elderly woman almost struck him on a roundabout. The mailman then instructed the woman to pull over, and began berating her until she burst into tears. The altercation was filmed by a passerby, who attempted to intervene to assist the older woman, an 80-year-old named Kay. “You’re supposed to give way at the roundabout,” the man is heard yelling in footage of the incident aired by Nine News. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F9NewsGoldCoast%2Fvideos%2F1680294369165021%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> “You’re supposed to stop at the roundabout." “Why were you not seeing me?” Bystander Melissa Burrows ran to the aid of Kay, who was visibly upset by the altercation, with Burrows asking the postie to tone down his tirade. “She’s an older lady,” Ms Burrows is heard telling the postie. “She’s scared. Please stop.” “I didn’t see you,” Kay told the postie. Ms Burrows then threatens to call the police on the postie, who responds with a “go away”. “Leave her alone and let her go,” she said. “Can you just slow down next time, please?” the postie asks the elderly woman. “I’m so sorry I didn’t see you,” Kay reaffirms. Speaking to Melissa after the postie drove away, Kay said, “I didn’t even touch him, but I didn’t see him either. I can’t believe how he’s reacted.” Ms Burrows later told the broadcaster the incident was “absolutely horrifying” and a “tirade of incredible abuse”. Australia Post told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/on-the-road/tirade-of-incredible-abuse-furious-postie-unleashes-on-elderly-gold-coast-driver/news-story/2c9985732e80970951aa73a6f03e1988" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> an investigation will be conducted reviewing video captured before and after the incident. “Australia Post’s Electric Delivery Vehicles (eDVs) are equipped with on-board telematics which capture video footage and data designed to help keep our people safe on the roads,” a spokesperson said. Image credits: Nine News

Travel Trouble

Uber driver shocked by elderly passenger's intrusive questions

A young Aussie Uber driver has shared the moment he was grilled by an elderly female passenger with a line of very judgemental questions. James Bade, 23, regularly uploads dash-cam footage to social media from his Uber journeys with colourful characters. In a video he posted on Wednesday, Bade picks up an elderly female passenger, who quickly begins quizzing him about his schooling and career. The woman asks Bade what his Year 12 ATAR rank was, before judging his answer. "What was your score like at the end of the year?" the woman asked. "Uhh, not great," Bade awkwardly responded. The passenger then pressed further, asking if his mark was "70? 80?", with Bade stated he got "65". "You did s***", the woman bluntly said. "Yeah, but that's okay," Bade said, to which the passenger responded, "No, it's not okay. It's s***." Bade, who appeared momentarily stunned by the woman's brash assertions about his school results, told her that he gave his final tests "a good go", with the passenger saying, "You did not." <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7277944950711438599&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40jamesbadeofficial%2Fvideo%2F7277944950711438599&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F65176828c7d846a09f542b7a8ccae59d_1694528612%3Fx-expires%3D1694826000%26x-signature%3DJ1LS93ofX1akA%252F3OHw4mxLNRhyI%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> Later on in the drive, she began questioning the young man about his career aspirations. Bade mentioned that he was "doing real estate for a few years" that gave him "some opportunities" but that he was happy being an Uber driver in the meantime. "Oh, God. Well you've gotta sort of get it together," the elderly passenger said. "It is together!" the young driver hit back. "I'm always chatting to new people and they're giving me new ideas for different things." The woman responded, "No it's not, my idea is to get it together." Bade posted the interaction to his TikTok account, as the video has quickly accumulated hundreds of thousands of views. Viewers were quick to praise Bade's patience with the elderly passenger, while slamming the woman's judgement of Bade's personal life decisions and her condescending attitude. "Nothing like an elderly alcoholic telling another person to get it together," one person commented. Another wrote, "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that...she's using your services and simultaneously looking down on it. It's insane. A job is a job." "You're so patient and calm with her, I would have kicked her out. Who gives her the right to judge?" added another. Image credits: TikTok

Travel Trouble

Suspect revealed in double murder of elderly couple

A 62-year-old woman from Adelaide has had official charges laid against her by South Australian police over the alleged double murder of her elderly parents – Brenda and Lynton Anderson – who police believe were <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/double-murder-investigation-launched-into-elderly-couple-who-died-a-year-apart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deliberately poisoned a year apart</a>. After initially concealing the identity of the suspect, detectives – who had been treating the deaths of Andersons, both aged 94, as a double murder – described their main person of interest as someone who was "known and close to both of them." At the time, Detective Inspector Mark McEachern told reporters that suspicions had arisen due to similarities and irregularities found in the toxicology reports of the deceased Andersons. It was determined that the presence of certain medications in their systems was unexplained and raised concerns. "There was no reason for the medication to have been in their system and that's raised concerns in respect of both deaths," McEachern said. "Mrs Anderson's hospital death was identified during the coronial investigation process after toxicology results gave significant rise for concern. When an innocent explanation for toxicology abnormalities was eliminated, the possibility Mrs Anderson's death being a deliberate act by another party became the primary subject of the investigation. "It is believed Mrs Anderson was killed by a person known to her and in close enough relationship to have been visiting her while she was in hospital." In the case of Lynton Anderson, he was discovered unconscious at his residence in Hackham by a caregiver on April 30. He was immediately transported to Flinders Medical Centre by SA Ambulance but succumbed to his condition the following day. Detectives then became suspicious of his toxicology results after closely analysing Brenda's case. After ruling out any of the carers who looked after the Andersons during their time in hospital, SA police have now taken the couple’s daughter – Raelene Polymiadis – into custody and laid appropriate charges against her. It will be alleged by SA Police that Raelene Polymiadis carried out her crimes while visiting her parents – mother Brenda while she was being treated in hospital for unrelated issues, and father Lynton at his Hackham home. Images: SA Police

Legal

Double murder investigation launched into elderly couple who died a year apart

Detectives are treating the deaths of Brenda and Lynton Anderson, both aged 94, as a double murder, with the main suspect believed to be someone close to the victims. The couple, who were great-grandparents, passed away a year apart under suspicious circumstances. Speaking at a press conference, Detective Inspector Mark McEachern revealed that both deaths were deliberate acts carried out by the same person, who had a close relationship with the Andersons. "Both were deliberately murdered by the same person who was known and close to both of them," Detective Inspector Mark McEachern told reporters. The suspicions arose due to similarities and irregularities found in the toxicology reports of the deceased couple. It was discovered that the presence of certain medications in their systems was unexplained and raised concerns. "The medication that was in there should not have been there, there was no reason for the medication to have been in their system and that's raised concerns in respect of both deaths," McEachern said. Brenda Anderson's demise initially occurred while she was receiving medical treatment at Noarlunga Hospital in March of the previous year. As her condition worsened, she was transferred to Flinders Medical Centre, where she eventually passed away. During the coronial investigation process, her hospital death came under scrutiny when significant abnormalities were found in the toxicology results. After ruling out any innocent explanation for these irregularities, the investigation turned its focus to the possibility of foul play by a third party known to Mrs. Anderson. The police have expressed confidence in the level of care provided by both hospitals. "Mrs Anderson's hospital death was identified during the coronial investigation process after toxicology results gave significant rise for concern. "When an innocent explanation for toxicology abnormalities was eliminated, the possibility Mrs Anderson's death being a deliberate act by another party became the primary subject of the investigation. "It is believed Mrs Anderson was killed by a person known to her and in close enough relationship to have been visiting her while she was in hospital. "Police have no concerns about the level of care in either hospital, which was exemplary," McEachern said. In the case of Lynton Anderson, he was discovered unconscious at his residence in Hackham by a caregiver on April 30. He was immediately transported to Flinders Medical Centre by SA Ambulance but succumbed to his condition the following day. Detectives also became suspicious of the toxicology results for Lynton after analysing Brenda's case. However, they have ruled out the involvement of external carers in his death. The police have identified a suspect but declined to provide further details at this stage of the investigation. Authorities are now urging anyone who had contact with the Anderson couple and possesses information related to their deaths and the events leading up to them to come forward. They are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who may have knowledge of any prescribed or non-prescribed medications used by the couple or discussed by them. The community has been left shocked and saddened by the tragic deaths of Brenda and Lynton Anderson. As the investigation into these distressing circumstances unfolds, the hope is that justice will be served and the truth behind these untimely losses will be revealed. Images: SA Police

Legal

Elderly woman hospitalised by royal motorcycle escort

A pensioner in her 80s is in critical condition after a collision with a police motorcycle that was escorting Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. The rolling motorcade, manned by motorcycle outriders, was escorting the Duchess when the collision happened. The Duchess was being escorted by the Met Police‘s Special Escort Group, who provide armed escorts for Royal Family members, VIPs, protected members of the Government, visiting royals, heads of state and other visiting dignitaries. Met Police released a <a href="https://news.met.police.uk/news/woman-injured-following-collision-with-police-motorcycle-in-west-london-466651#:~:text=A%20woman%20has%20been%20injured,Road%2C%20Earls%20Court%2C%20SW5." target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that said: “A woman has been injured after being involved in a collision with a police motorcycle in west London. “At approximately 15:21hrs on Wednesday, 10 May a police motorcycle on escort duties was involved in a collision with a member of the public on West Cromwell Road, Earls Court, SW5. “Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance attended and a woman, aged in her 80s, was taken to hospital. “She remains there in a critical condition. Her family have been informed”. Road closures were in place and two bikes – one with King Charles‘ cypher – were seen inside the cordon after the collision happened. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace has said: “The Duchess’s heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the injured lady and her family. “She is grateful for the swift response by the emergency services and will keep abreast of developments. “Further comment at this time would not be appropriate while the incident is being investigated.” Image: Getty

News

Elderly pizza lady receives $390k tip after falling during delivery

Barbara Gillespie was completing a typical Friday night pizza delivery when things took an unexpected turn. The 72 year old had just made her way up a home’s front veranda stairs, arms laden with her pizza boxes, when she stumbled and fell on to a small white chair. The family, whose <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@momofthe5ks/video/7195696356508372266" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security camera captured the entire tumble</a>, came outside to see what had happened as the elderly driver was picking herself up from the ground. On shaky legs, Barbara apologised again and again for what had become of the family’s food, telling them that she’d “ruined” it. But the family - otherwise known as the Keighrons - were only concerned about her. “I opened the door and there she is, just laying on the ground trying to get up,” Kevin Keighron said on Good Morning America. “She was more worried about the food than anything else. And I was like, ‘I don't care about the food. I care about you’.” Kevin and his wife, Lacey, described Barbara as being “the sweetest”, and after the incident - which occurred in early February - the pair decided to set up a GoFundMe to give Barbara a “tip” for her hard work. “We would like to bless her by bringing by a ‘tip’ to help her with anything she may need,” Kevin said. “She is an older woman who fell and only cared about the food she dropped. “Let’s show her some kindness and take off some of this burden that our economy is causing the older generations especially!” More than 14,000 people donated, and the fundraiser achieved a whopping $390,000. “We thought we would get her a bigger tip and bring it to her. We never expected to get as much as we did,” Kevin said of their successful campaign. “We were just so excited and thrilled to be able to tell her the next day.” And when taking the surprise to Barbara, Kevin - Lacey, and two of their children - decided to make the grand reveal at her work. They later shared footage of the reunion to their TikTok account. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620.262px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7195971641262755114&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40momofthe5ks%2Fvideo%2F7195971641262755114&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F763d48ec7b5b4f728dcbe02bb60cc22f%3Fx-expires%3D1677142800%26x-signature%3DPCfbQDrxw5It6Ey%252FV9NWSJXsZ6A%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> They have since shared that with the extra funds, Barbara was able to put in her two-week notice and finally enjoy her well-deserved retirement. Barbara said that the generosity of everyone involved was overwhelming, and admitted she was close to giving up on people because some of them can be “so mean.” “And here we got loving, caring people. They care about someone else” she declared, seemingly delighted to have had her mind so thoroughly changed, “about an elderly woman.” Images: TikTok

Money & Banking

Detective steals thousands from elderly woman

An elderly woman who was scammed out of $30,000 in an online scam has once again been stolen from, after the police officer helping her recover the money stole her bank details. In May 2021, 74-year-old Sonia was robbed by fraudsters pretending to be NBN workers after they convinced her to transfer the hefty five-figure sum. After discovering it was a scam, Sonia then reported the crime to NSW Police, who sent a detective to her home to investigate. The officer was supposed to be helping Sonia recover her stolen money, but instead tried to use her credit card and banking details and purchase almost $20,000 worth of goods. The police officer fronted Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday where his barrister tried to explain his client's behaviour saying he had gone "off the rails" and fallen into a depression due to the nature of his work. In June 2021, the detective, who cannot be named, attended Sonia's home several times to investigate what happened, often wearing his full police uniform. To gain her sympathy, he said he had a brain aneurysm and had not yet told his girlfriend or work. According to police documents tendered to the court, Sonia trusted him and he told her she "reminded him of his own grandmother", the <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/detective-investigating-30k-fraud-on-74yo-woman-steals-her-credit-card-for-16k-shopping-spree/news-story/1823067b8a55dc184f1278ce6a933b69" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Daily Telegraph</a> reported. When he asked to see her online banking details, credit cards and passwords, Sonia gave them to him willingly, assuming they were needed for his investigation. The detective tried to buy close to $20,000 worth of items from JB Hi Fi, Big W and Myer, including iPhones, GoPro cameras and Apple Watches. Thankfully for Sonia, none of the attempted purchases went through, as they were all rejected by Sonia's bank as suspicious activity. When Sonia was notified of the attempted transactions, she immediately suspected the detective who had been supposed to be helping her. In court this week, the now former detective pleaded guilty to stealing Sonia's bank details, and will will face Downing Centre District Court in Sydney on May 12th when he will be sentenced. More than 18 months after the events, Sonia is still very troubled by what happened and blames herself. "I can't switch off a feeling that I was stupid in the first place ... I trusted this guy and then he did that," she said. Image credits: Getty Images

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