Dinah Riddiford - the oldest woman to be hanged. At 69 years old Dinah Riddiford was most probably the oldest female to be executed in the UK. She and her son, Luke, had been convicted at the Gloucestershire Summer Assizes, before Mr. Justice Abbot on August 1816 in the brand new Shire Hall courthouse of stealing two sides of bacon, two pig’s cheeks, a piece of tongue, a pat of butter in an earthenware pot and a copper tea kettle. The crime took place at house at St. Briavells in Thornbury. Luke was sentenced to death but he was reprieved to transportation for life to Australia, her husband and younger son were acquitted. 22 year old John Williams was convicted at the same Assize of a housebreaking in the Forrest of Dean. At the end of his trial he was reported as saying “My Lord, I confess myself guilty of the crimes laid at my charge and many more. I was led into them by bad company and I hope I will be hanged as a warning to others.” Both he ...