Pensioner mugged on way to husband’s graveside in West Bromwich
POLICE are hunting a violent thug who carried out a “despicable attack” on a 90-year-old woman who was on the way to lay flowers at her husband’s grave.
The cowardly attacker struck near to a West Bromwich tram stop on Saturday morning and left Nancy Reeve with severe injuries to her face, hand and leg.
Mrs Reeve was attacked between 9.30am and 10am as she waited for a tram at Trinity Way to take her to the crematorium where her late husband is buried.
Mrs Reeve, who lives locally, was walking along a pathway leading to the tram stop when she was pushed from behind and knocked to the ground by her attacker who made off with her handbag.
She told officers she felt a hard thud on her back and then fell, breaking her spectacles.
After picking herself up, she realised she was bleeding from her facial injuries and made her way back towards home.
She then realised her bag was missing and alerted a neighbour who called the police and an ambulance.
She was taken to Sandwell and Dudley Hospital and was kept in overnight for observations.
Mrs Reeve suffered a cut above her right eye that needed six stitches and she also needed stitches to a cut on her left hand.
Her other injuries include severe bruising on her hands and arms, grazing and bruising to her right knee and she is experiencing back pain.
She is now recovering at home with her family.
The stolen bag is a black, leather-look shopping bag with short handles, about 18in’ wide by 12in deep.
It contained a black leather purse with £50 in cash, house keys on a chain, a bus pass and a red Macintosh jacket with hood and zip fastening. Det Sgt Shanie Erwin, from British Transport Police, said: “This was a despicable attack on a frail pensioner who was on her way to catch a tram to lay flowers at the headstone of her husband.
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