Knife ordeal of widow, 83

12 September 2007

AN 83-YEAR-OLD woman feared for her life as a burglar held her at knifepoint in her Manor Park home.

Having woken to find the intruder standing by her bed, Phyllis King, who lives in Strone Road, was punched in the head, manhandled and forced to empty her bag on the floor while threatened with the weapon.

The thug took the pensioner's purse containing £40 and a £500 diamond ring she was wearing which had been given to her as a Christmas present by her late husband.

Mrs King, speaking exclusively to the Recorder, said she was lucky to be alive after being terrorised and left with severe bruising.

Roughly three weeks earlier the widow fell victim to conmen pretending to check her water supply. They made off with £1,000 and some jewellery.

The suspect is described as a black youth about 16 years old and around 5ft 5ins tall.

He wore a black hooded top and cap, three-quarter length trousers and trainers with two black straps over them. A youth fitting his description was seen nearby on a bike a short while later.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the attack at around 4am on September 4 is asked to contact Det Con John Burman on (020) 8217 5434, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.