Two hundred Bristol OAPs arrested in two years

A 99-year-old alleged burglar was among more than 200 suspected criminals aged over 70 who have been arrested in the Bristol area in a two-year period.

The pensioners were arrested on suspicion of 62 different types of crimes by Avon and Somerset Police, ranging from theft and being drunk in public to causing grievous bodily harm, loan sharking, possessing an automatic weapon and conspiracy to murder.

A full range of ages is included, with septuagenarians accused of assaulting police officers, octogenarians drink-driving and even two nonagenarians in the figures revealed under the Freedom of Information Act.

Sexual offences by men and women make up a significant number, with the alleged victims often teenagers and children.

At one year short of a century, the 99-year-old was the oldest person to be arrested, for an allegation of house burglary and theft, without violence. He was closely followed by a 92-year-old arrested for giving a positive breath test.

The most serious of the 223 offences included a 71-year-old woman arrested for conspiracy to murder, and an 80-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm – the oldest woman to be detained by police in that period.

The figures show arrests in 2007 and 2008 but do not indicate which pensioners were charged or whether any were convicted.

Because the people arrested have not been named in the list, it is not clear whether there was repeat offending.

In total 200 of the arrests related to male offenders, and 23 to women.

The wide range of 36 sexual alleged offences included a 74-year-old woman arrested for sexual activity with a boy under 13 in her care, and a 70-year-old woman arrested for sexually assaulting a girl under 13, and a male of unidentified age.

A 72-year-old man was arrested for kidnap and a sexual assault on a woman, and a 75-year-old man was arrested for rape of a girl aged under 16 and another under 13.

An 83-year-old man was arrested for attempted rape of a girl under 16; gross indecency and inciting a girl under 16 to commit an act of gross indecency; and indecent assault of a girl under 14.

Other serious allegations include a 75-year-old man arrested for making threats to kill. There were several arrests for soliciting prostitutes.

Motoring offences account for 57 of the arrests, mostly for drink-driving, although two were for dangerous driving.

There were also seven firearms offences, including firing an air weapon, possession of an automatic weapon and possession of military grade ammunition.

Shoplifting accounted for 13 offences, with other deceptions including fraud and money laundering.

Four people were arrested under the Mental Health Act, and three pensioners were taken into custody after warrants were issued for their arrest.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "Anyone over the age of 10 may be accused of a criminal offence and may be bought before the court – there is no upper limit for someone committing crime."

The crimes:

Abuse of position of trust

Actual Bodily Harm

Affray

Assault police constable in execution of their duty

Attempted rape

Battery

Breach of bail

Breach of the peace

Burglary

Careless driving

Causing a child to look at an image of a person engaged in a sexual act

Causing harassment alarm or distress

Causing fear of unlawful violence

Common assault

Conspiracy to murder

Conspire to supply amphetamine

Criminal damage

Dangerous driving

Detaining a child

Driving a motor vehicle which had been taken without the owner's consent

Driving without a licence

Driving without insurance

Driving while disqualified

Drunk and disorderly

Drunk and incapable

Drunk driving

Drunk in a public place

Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13

Exposure

Fail of driver to provide specimen for analysis

Failure to comply with condition of a firearm certificate

Firing an air weapon beyond premises

Fraud by abuse of position

Grievous Bodily Harm without intent

Gross indecency

Handling stolen goods

Harassment

In charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink

Incite a child to touch

Indecent assault

Making an indecent photograph of a child

Money laundering

Obstruction on engine

Permitting use of a vehicle without a test certificate

Possession of cannabis

Possession of cannabis with intent to supply

Possession of firearm without certificate

Possession of an indecent photograph

Possession of knife blade

Possession of an offensive weapon

Possession of prohibited ammunition, military equipment

Possession of a prohibited weapon (automatic)

Possession of shotgun without a licence

Racially aggravated harassment

Rape

Sexual assault

Sexual touching

Shoplifting

Soliciting for prostitution

Threats to kill

Theft by finding

Unlicensed money lending