MEMBERS of a Bournemouth community have spoken of their ‘shock and disgust’ after a blind woman was savagely robbed in an alleyway on Tuesday afternoon.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the victim, who is in her 40s, was dragged along the ground during the incident in West Howe.

She was attacked in Spitfire Walk, just off Pilot Hight Road, by a robber who may have been riding a bicycle.

The woman was able to keep hold of her handbag. The strap of the bag appears to have been cut with a knife, police say.

Yesterday, West Howe residents told of their horror at the robbery, which happened in broad daylight.

Lea Cornick-Slater said: “Whoever did this is absolutely disgusting.

“Everyone here is in uproar about it. We are all appalled.”

Ms Cornick-Slater, who grew up in West Howe, said the robbery is “unnerving”.

“There’s a strong community here, and people are really horrified,” she said.

“We’ve seen the police a couple of times today. They’ve been around the community and that does make you feel quite a bit safer.”

Sue Tabor, of Pilot Hight Road, said: “It’s disgusting.

“That alleyway is horrible anyway, and it’s an awful place for something like that to happen. Whoever did this needs to be found.”

Inspector Danny Thompson of Dorset Police said: “This was a really violent and despicable crime.

“Dorset is generally a very safe place to live, and crimes like this stand out and are, quite rightly, universally condemned.”

Residents of West Howe are “absolutely united in disgust” at the incident, he added.

Ward councillor Roger Marley said such an attack is a “real rarity” for Dorset.

“I’ve been a councillor for eight years and it’s the first time I’ve heard of anything quite like this,” he said.

“For someone to take advantage of a vulnerable person in that manner is abhorrent.”

Cllr Jane Kelly, who is involved in charity West Howe Community Enterprises, said: "The community here has really come together over the past few years, and I know residents will support anyone who is the victim of something terrible, as this poor lady is."

Anyone with information about the attack is urged to contact Dorset Police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 13:218.