A GRANDMOTHER was knocked off her mobility scooter by a robber who repeatedly apologised — before running off with more than £200.

The 74-year-old woman was approached from behind in Ernest Street, near to Back Park Road, Bolton, at 11.30am on Wednesday, May 21.

The robber tapped the woman on the shoulder and pulled her handbag from around her neck, causing her to fall off the scooter.

The man took her purse but threw it to the ground a short distance away after she begged him not to take her credit cards. He ran off in the direction of Queens Park with £225 cash.

The pensioner, who asked not to be named, said: “If he goes to court I would like to look him in the eyes and tell him what he has done to me.

“He pulled me to the ground and kept saying sorry. I was saying to him that he couldn’t be sorry as he had pulled me to the ground. I was shouting ‘please don’t take money’ — then I told him to take the money but leave my credit cards.

“He dropped my purse on the ground and ran. I was shaken up and frightened. I was really angry.”

The woman hurt her left elbow, knee and hand.

She had gone down a back street as there were no dropped pavements on the main route.

The victim said she had a large amount of cash on her because she had been shopping with her daughter a few days earlier. She was returning to her Heaton home after collecting her blue disabled badge from Bolton town centre.

The former North British Housing control centre operator, who lives alone, said she would not be defeated after the attack — but added she would not be using her scooter to travel into the town centre from now on.

She said: “I will get a taxi instead. The first time I went out after it happened was a week later. I will use my scooter but I will not go down back streets.

“I would like to tell the robber not to attack vulnerable ladies on scooters and warn people to take care when going down back streets.”

The robber is described as being about 19, of slim build, 5ft 4 to 5ft 5 ins and thought to be Asian. He was wearing black jeans, a black T-shirt and trainers.

Det Con Pam Chandler, from Bolton Central Neighbourhood Policing Team, is appealing for any witnesses or anyone who recognises the description of the offender to come forward.

Det Con Chandler said: “I would advise people to use main roads rather than isolated areas, not to carry large amounts of money and to have a mobile phone to contact people if needed.”

The incident comes a week after Jane Campbell, aged 79, was left bruised and frightened after a man stole her shopping bag in Back Anglia Grove, Deane, on Wednesday, May 14. Police are not linking the crimes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 5619 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.