A pensioner hospitalised after being mugged twice in a fortnight is off on holiday after a community rallied round.
Anne Willis, 76, broke her shoulder after being dragged to the ground during the second attack as she made her way home from church in Hazel Grove, Stockport.
Thirteen days earlier she had been mugged at knifepoint in the exact same spot.
That time the thief made off her shopping and belongings, including a superman t-shirt which which was a gift for one of her grandchildren.
Following the attacks horrfied residents set up an online fundraiser in honour of Anne, who spent two days in hospital and still has her right arm in a sling.
More than £1,000 was raised and the widow, whose husband Keith died in 1999 from emphysema, plans to use the money on a trip to Llandudno, Wales, with a friend when she recovers.
Anne, who suffered a heart attack two years ago and says she has been scared to leave the house since the muggings, said: “The first time he took my shopping bag and my groceries, then about a fortnight later I was coming home from church after I'd been to Sainsbury's first and this man appeared and snatched my bag from my shoulder.
“I ended up on the ground and smashed my shoulder.
“I came to Hazel Grove in 1972 and I’ve never seen anything like this before – it’s so nice and peaceful here.
“The fundraising was very kind and I might go on holiday when I’m better, to Llandudno.”
The local community was so horrified children at nearby Dial Park Primary School invited Anne in for a cup of tea and made her a card - while she was flooded by flowers and cards from other residents.
Anne’s brother David Carter, 63, a retired process engineer who lives close to her, said: “I was in York having a weekend break the second time and my daughter rang me up and said ‘Have you heard what’s happened, Anne has been targeted again’.
“It is unbelievable – she had a heart attack two years ago and she could have had another one.
“Now I have my grandkids awake at night not wanting to go to school.
"They can't understand how anybody would do this to Auntie Anne, she is like a grandmother to them.
“If there's any money left over from the fundraiser I'm going to put in on improving security.
“I have lived in this area all of my life, nothing like this has been happened before.”
Greater Manchester Police confirmed Lee Davenport, 39, of Mount Pleasant, Hazel Grove, was charged with two counts of robbery in connection with the attacks on June 10 and June 23.
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He is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court later this month.
To donate to Anne’s appeal click here.
