Southport pensioner mugged in the street rewarded with hamper by police

Dec 18 2012 by Tom Duffy, Formby Times

A BIRKDALE pensioner who suffered a fractured pelvis and knee after being mugged in the street was presented with a Christmas hamper and £50 worth of vouchers by the police.

Great-grandmother Jean Barlow, 87, was knocked to the floor by a mugger who snatched her handbag on Beech Road earlier this year.

A passing van driver pulled over and raised the alarm. He tried to pull Jean up from the floor but she could not move because of her serious injuries.

Jean was forced to move in to Chase Heys residential home after the street attack. She arrived in a wheelchair but can now walk with the use of a zimmer frame.

She hopes to be home for Christmas and resume her busy, independent life.

On Friday Sergeant Nigel Stewart and Police Community Support Officer Jai Edward surprised Jean with a hamper and supermarket vouchers.

The gifts were paid for by Merseyside Police’s Federation charitable trust.

Jean said: “I suffered a fractured pelvis and knee in the fall. The lad pushed me over from behind.

“I would like to thank the van driver who stopped and helped me. The police have been fantastic. They cancelled all my cards within hours.

“Unfortunately my house keys were also in my handbag, so they had to change all the locks in my apartment block.

“I would like to thank all the staff at Chase Heys. My grandchildren have been visiting me.”

Jean was walking home after visiting a friend on Botanic Row in October when she was mugged.

Sgt Stewart said: "Jean showed a lot of resilience after the incident and co-operated fully with police. She provided a good description of the mugger, which helped the investigation.

“What happened to her was terrible and I am pleased to say that we have arrested someone in connection with the robbery. It is lovely to see her doing so well and being so well looked after and it will be great for her and her family to be back home in time for Christmas.

‘‘She has been incredibly brave throughout the whole thing and her account of what happened has been important to the investigation. “Nothing will make what happened that afternoon better but a hamper will hopefully lift her spirits and show her that there are plenty of people looking out for her."