A woman who allegedly attacked a mother and threatened to set her baby on fire has sparked a police hunt.
The mum, 35, was walking through Walsall when she was approached by the woman who attempted to repeatedly talk to her.
As the terrified mum attempted to walk away, she claims the woman, who was not known to her, followed her.
The mum told police the woman was paying lots of attention to the baby.
West Midlands Police said the scared mum then went into a house near Paddock Lane in Aldrige to seek help.
However as the mum entered the garden of the home and an elderly man attempted to intervene, the woman allegedly grabbed a garden light and lunged it at the mum's arm.
She then allegedly pulled out a lighter and said she would set the baby on fire, the mum claims.
The elderly man then pulled the mum and baby into his home before an ornament was then thrown at his front door.
While the mum was left incredibly shaken, she and the baby were unharmed.
Police have now launched an investigation and are appealing for the public's help in tracing the woman.
She is described as mixed race, aged between 17-20 and around 5ft5in.
Detective Inspector Mandy Thompson, from our force CID, said: “This is a shocking attack which must have been an incredibly frightening for the woman and the elderly man who helped her.
“Fortunately unprovoked attacks like this are extremely rare and we’re doing all we can to find the woman responsible.
“We’ve following up a number of lines of enquiry, but we need your help − if you saw anything on Monday evening − please get in touch.
“If you were out taking exercise, or in your car in the area and may have seen something, or have dash cam footage, we need to hear from you.
“Likewise if you think you know who this young woman could be, please let us know. It’s important that we identify her as it was a terrifying ordeal for the mother and the man who helped her out."
Anyone with any information is urged to contact us via Live Chat on our website, or call 101 quoting crime reference number 20WS/109445C/20.
