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ALLEYWAY attack ... 82-year-old Muriel McGregor was knocked unconscious by a mugger who stole her pension.
ALLEYWAY attack ... 82-year-old Muriel McGregor was knocked unconscious by a mugger who stole her pension.
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Great-gran's robbery ordeal

Damon Wilkinson
26/ 8/2008

A GREAT-grandmother was knocked unconscious before being robbed of her pension book.

Muriel McGregor, aged 82, was left with a broken wrist and serious head and leg injuries following the attack at about 11.40am on Tuesday.

The 4ft great-grandmother-of-two, who has osteoporosis, was walking along an alleyway off Greenbank Road, Foxholes, after collecting her pension from Hamer post office when the attacker struck.

The man grabbed her, wrapped his arm around her chest and spun her, causing her to fall. He then stole a carrier bag containing £255, her pension book and house keys.

Muriel, a former home carer, broke her left wrist when she fell to the floor.

She said: "I do not remember anything. I was walking along the ginnel and the next thing I can remember is lying on the ground with people above me.

"The man who did this is just a coward."

Muriel, who has two children and four grandchildren, will now be forced to go into a care home until her injuries heal.

Daughter Pauline Hencher, of Chorley, said: "I am absolutely disgusted. I broke down in tears when I saw her. What kind of man could do this to an old woman?

"It is a good job she is tough because otherwise this could have knocked her for six. She has always prided herself on her independence and my main worry is that this will take that away from her."

Police Inspector James Troisi said: "This was a shocking attack on a vulnerable old woman who was walking home from the post office."

But he added: "I must stress that this type of incident is extremely rare in this part of Rochdale."

A MAN has been released without charge by officers investigating the incident. A 31-year-old from Rochdale was arrested on suspicion of robbery last Thursday.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8635 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.


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Most recent 1 of 1 user comments

   There are no areas safe now for Seniors going to pick up Pensions. It should be changed. Use to bother me when my Aunt insisted on keeping it that she went up and got in Cash. Thought the PO in village was safe also. Maybe now that a lot of these small PO places are closing it will be make that people have to have it sent to a bank. The can have a account using it for just their Pension. Issue a Debit card which they can use same as Cash. We have a problem here in USA also as some still get their checks in the Mail (monthly) This has to stop by Jan. 2--9 and can only be by Direct Deposit to Bank.
JeanneP, Rochdale, Lancashire
24/08/2008 at 02:14
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