A disabled grandmother today said she had been frightened out of her home by a mugger who made off with her pension.

Sheena Townsend is too frightened to leave her flat in West Bowling, Bradford, after her carer was attacked for the £200 allowance.

Mrs Townsend, 54, has lived in the city all her life but said she had now decided to move to Northampton to be with her son.

The grandmother-of-six said the incident occurred when her 57-year-old carer went to pick up her monthly pension from the Post Office on Gaythorne Road. "She was walking down the snicket by my flat when we heard the screaming. The mugger had pushed her up against the wall and grabbed the handbag. He must have been watching and waiting for her to come out."

She added: "My daughter ran out to help but he was on a bike and was off like a shot."

While Mrs Townsend telephoned the police, her daughter Germaine, 27, gave chase.

"As he pedalled away, he fell off his bike. Some painters who didn't know what had happened helped him back on and he disappeared into the Ripleyville flats."

Despite a search, the mugger could not be found. Mrs Townsend said: "What if this happens to a really elderly person? If they are knocked down they could be really badly hurt or have a heart attack."

"It is getting so that older people are getting frightened to go outside. After this happened, my son has asked me to go and live down in Northampton with him and I am going to do it. I just can't risk living here any more."

As well as the pension - more than £206 - the handbag contained photographs of Mrs Townsend's grandson David.

"He was born prematurely and only weighed 2lbs. The pictures were taken in hospital and it is so upsetting to think they have just been thrown on to the street somewhere."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident - which occurred last Wednesday - and asked anyone with information to contact 01274 736659.

e-mail: drew.kendell@

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