AN elderly woman mugged by a false good Samaritan at the door of her home said she feels lucky she wasn't more seriously injured.

Lottie Evans, who has osteoarthritis and walks with the aid of two sticks, was shoved to the ground by the thug after he had offered to carry her shopping indoors.

 

The 86-year-old, who enjoys an active social life, singing and calligraphy, suffered a split pelvis in the fall, and the robber made off with her purse and mobile phone.

Recalling the incident, which occurred in Washington Avenue at 1.45pm on Friday last week, Mrs Evans said: “He said 'can I help you please', he was so polite all the time.

“He said 'I would like to make sure you are safe', but when he came in the door he was a changed man.

“I had only just taken the key out of the door when he punched me more-or-less in the chest, and as I fell I hit the radiator.”

The robber, described as a black man between 25 and 35 years old, five feet seven inches tall and of slim build, ran off towards Spring Road.

Mrs Evans, who said she was not angry about the crime, praised her neighbour - 18-year-old Alex Bownes - who rushed to her rescue.

“I was so happy and grateful to see him,” she said.

“He was there so quickly and he helped me up and called the police. He is a great young man.”

Mrs Evans, who has lived in the area since 1953, said she couldn't have wished for a better neighbourhood - but acknowledged she would find it more difficult to trust strangers when back on her feet.

“I have always been careful, and it is no good to be fearful, but I will have to be double careful,” she said.

“I will warn my friends around here to do the same.”

The robber was described as wearing a dark blue hoody, dark trousers and a baseball cap.

Contact Dorset Police with information on 101 quoting incident number 18:240 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.