A pensioner who was injured in a brutal attack has been presented with £500 by her local Iceland store.
Staff and customers from the Upton Park supermarket rallied round to raise the cash for Patricia Beckford, 75, who used to visit the shop daily.
She has barely left her home since her jaw was broken in two places in an unprovoked attack while riding her mobility scooter in Grangewood Street last month.
Patricia, who has also been given a brand new scooter by mobility and disability equipment supplier London Mobility, said she was very grateful for the kindness shown towards her.
“It was very good of them,” she said. “I have thanked the staff and the people who put into the collection.”
Patricia has been been told that she is unlikely to ever get the feeling back in her chin and lips following the attack.
Iceland manager Ewan Wheeler became firm friends with the pensioner after she knitted a shawl for his newborn son a few months ago.
“The amount of people who knew her and wanted to help her made us start a collection on the behalf of the public,” he said.
“It was just nice to get her out of the house although you could tell that she was a bit nervous.”
Staff hope that their fundraising will be used to help encourage Patricia to venture further afield by arranging a trip to Lakeside with her family.
*A 37-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the attack has been bailed to return to a north London police station in early July.
Read more:
Man arrested over East Ham assault on Patricia, 75
Pensioner attacked in East Ham in daylight is ‘too scared to leave house’
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