A PENSIONER was left bruised and terrified after she was attacked by a “cowardly robber” shortly after she left a doctor’s surgery.

Jane Campbell, aged 79, was approached from behind by a man who put his hand on her shoulder before running off with her shopping bag in Back Anglia Grove, Deane.

Mrs Campbell, who uses a walking stick, lost her balance during the ordeal and fell to the ground, hitting her face, breaking a finger on her left hand and bruising a second finger.

She was left shaken and terrified with bruises on her hip, a black eye and cuts on her chin after the attack, and spent several hours in hospital.

The robber escaped with only Mrs Campbell's tablets.

Police visited Mrs Campbell yesterday to check on her and present her with a bunch of flowers following the attack, which happened at lunchtime on Wednesday.

It is thought the robber, who had an accomplice, may have followed Mrs Campbell.

The two men are believed to have fled along Anglia Grove into Mercia Street.

Mrs Campbell, a retired employee of Rumbelows, has lived in Deane with her long-term partner for nearly 30 years.

She said: “I had only been out about half an hour when it happened.


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"I was returning from the doctors when I felt somebody put their hand on my shoulder then take my bag.

“My sweater had a lot of blood on afterwards. I am a bit of a fighter and I can’t give in to this.

"It is one of those things that has happened and I want to get over it — you can’t keep a good girl down. It happened quickly. They didn’t say anything to me.”

The second man stood a short distance away from the attacker when the robbery took place.

The victim’s bag and medication were later found discarded.

Sgt Andrea Ennis, from Bolton Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This is a despicable crime against a defenceless lady.

"These offenders are nothing but cowards targeting a vulnerable person who was going about her daily business in broad daylight.

“I would like to thank members of the public who have helped police with their inquiries so far. I would urge anybody who has witnessed this terrible incident to call police.

“This woman has suffered appalling injuries for the sake of some tablets. Clearly the offenders were expecting to get more from the robbery.

"If anybody knows who these people are or if they have heard who is involved or if the people involved have told anyone what they have done please do not hesitate to contact police.”

Police have upped patrols in the area and have been knocking on doors to find witnesses and reassure residents in the streets around where the robbery took place.

Two people are believed to have been involved in the robbery.

The first suspect, who took the bag, was about 17 years old, 5ft 3ins, slim to medium build, with black hair and was wearing a royal or sky blue top.

The second man is thought to be slightly taller, medium build and was wearing a grey hooded top.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.