A ‘vulnerable’ 85-year-old woman has been left ‘looking over her shoulder’ after a hooded figure carried out a ‘callous’ attack in a secluded pathway.
Mary Littler was walking home from Lloyds Pharmacy, at the North Worle District Centre, on September 19 at 9.30am down a ‘peaceful’ lane she had taken many times over the past 35 years, when a hooded man snuck up behind her and stole her handbag, knocking her to the floor.
Police are searching for the man behind the ‘nasty attack’ which left Mrs Littler with bruises on her face, missing her belongings and ‘nervous’.
She told the Mercury: “I walked to the bottom of the lane and I was thinking how it was ever so peaceful and nice.
“I saw a shadow behind me and thought someone was just trying to get past, then a hand came around me and grabbed my handbag.
“In reaction I grabbed it but fell and hit my face on the floor.”
The man made off with £40 in cash, store cards, Mrs Littler’s mobile phone, her glasses and house keys.
Jason Bond and a woman had been walking down the lane and came to Mrs Littler’s aid, calling the police and an ambulance.
She added: “I stayed quite strong, I didn’t cry but I was very nervous. I keep looking over my shoulder. If I see someone with a hood on I feel nervous.”
“It was all over within a matter of minutes, it happened so quickly.”
Mrs Littler, who lives in Worle, has called on North Somerset Council to ‘do something about the dreadful lane’ near Queensway where she was robbed.
She said: “I do not want someone else suffering what I have been through.
“It is absolutely dreadful with the bushes eight to 10 feet high and overgrown foliage and rubbish.”
The offender is described as white, about 5ft 5ins tall, of average build and possibly in his late teens. He was wearing a navy hoodie.
PC Christopher Appleby, the investigating officer, said: “This was a cowardly and nasty attack on a vulnerable woman who was on her own.
“Please help us with any information if you recognise this description or you were in the area around the time of this callous and despicable robbery.”
Anyone who can help should call 101 and give the reference number 5218210225.
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