Radford pensioner mugged after drawing pension...

[dutchman]

A 72-year-old great-gran was mugged for her pension as she left a post office on a mobility scooter.


Jane Finlayson with her daughter Belinda

A cowardly thief sneaked up on Jane Finlayson in Coventry and grabbed her handbag containing more than £100. She had just drawn her pension from a post office in Coundon when she was attacked.

The yob grabbed the great-grandmother from behind and made off with her bag. Jane, who suffers from sight and mobility problems, was left so badly shaken she could barely press the keys on her mobile phone to get help.

The mugger struck in Christchurch Road, Coundon, at about 10am last Thursday.

Police described the incident as a “callous and cowardly attack on a vulnerable lady” and are appealing for information as they hunt the thief.

Jane, who lives in Radford, said: “It was a beautiful sunny morning so I thought I’d get my coat and my handbag to go to the post office.

“I had a letter that I wanted to send, so I went out on my scooter. While I was there I collected my pension, and I remember having to drive off the path onto the road when I left because the path was being dug up.

“I was about to go back on the path and was concentrating hard on where I was going when someone leant over me and said
‘excuse me’.

“They put their hand on my arm and lifted my bag over head. I shouted ‘help’ but I don’t think anyone could hear me. All I saw was a dark grey sleeve. Then they were gone.”

It is believed Jane could have been followed as she left the post office. “I was so shocked. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“I went to get my mobile phone to call my daughter but it took me a while to call her because I was shaking so much I couldn’t press the buttons.”

As well as the money, the black bag also contained bank cards, keys and sentimental items including photos of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they were babies.

It is the third time in 12 years that Jane has been robbed. The last time, in 1987, left her afraid to leave the house for five years.

She added: “I can’t sleep and it’s affected my confidence. I still get a lump in my throat when I think about it.

“But I’m going to carry on. I won’t let it beat me. I wasn’t hurt and I’m grateful for small mercies.

“If anyone knows anything please call the police because the next time he might do much worse, he might hurt someone.”

Her daughter Belinda, 42, said: “Whoever did it is scum.What kind of man would do that to an elderly person?”

PC Catriona Green said: “While crimes of this nature are rare, this was a callous and cowardly attack on a vulnerable lady.

“She needs a mobility scooter to get around yet her attacker has just seen her as a target, someone who would offer no resistance or be able to defend herself. This man has no morals or conscience and we need to trace him.”

[rebbonk]

By God, we stoop to new lows daily!

[dutchman]

Coventry butchers organise whip-round for gran who was mugged



A GREAT gran who was mugged in the street has thanked her butchers after they organised a whip-round to cheer her up.

Normally when Jane Finlayson visits TJ Rowland, in the city centre, she comes away with a selection of choice cuts of meat.

But on her latest visit she was presented with a bouquet of flowers, tickets to a show at the Belgrade Theatre, and £120.

The Spon Street butchers started the collection after reading in the Telegraph that Jane, aged 72, had been targeted by a cowardly thief who stole her pension as she rode her mobility scooter.

They put a bucket on the counter for collections and asked a handful of other city centre shops to help – and were delighted by the response.

Terry Rowland said: “It’s not about the money – it’s about showing Jane that people care and want to see her getting out and about.

“She is quite a strong girl, very independent, and if she loses that then they’ve won. We couldn’t let that happen.

“She’s here every Saturday without fail to collect her order. I’ve told her we’ll deliver it but she likes to come out.

“People were more than happy to help us even though times are tough.

“She’s been coming here for 20 years so the community pulls together. You wouldn’t get that at a supermarket.”

Jane had just withdrawn her pension from a post office in Coundon when she was mugged at around 10am on March 14.

The yob grabbed her from behind and stole her bag as she scootered along Christchurch Road.

Police described it as a “callous and cowardly attack on a vulnerable lady”.

Since the attack Jane has left her home in Radford several times – and says she is determined not to be beaten by the thief.

“I’m not going to let it get the better of me,” she said. “I’m a stronger character than that.

“And if anyone so much as tries it I’ll get ready to clobber them with my stick.

“I’m surprised that Terry and Dave arranged this – it’s absolutely wonderful. I didn’t expect anything like this, I felt like I was full to burst.”

The Belgrade Theatre, Signatures Café and Johnsons the Florist all generously helped the appeal.

Police are still investigating the attack.

PC Catriona Green said: “She needs a mobility scooter to get around yet her attacker has just seen her as a target, someone who would offer no resistance or be able to defend herself. This man has no morals or conscience and we need to trace him.”

Call 101 if you can help.