Pensioner scared to stay at home after robbery

Disabled Anne Appleton, 68, said her attacker had threatened to get a knife from her kitchen unless she handed over money.

Now the stroke victim, who lives alone in a flat in Blackbird Leys, has demanded sheltered homes are made more secure for vulnerable pensioners.

The attack happened at 11.30am on Tuesday, after Mrs Appleton returned home from a trip to Blackbird Leys library on her mobility scooter.

She said: “Because of the layout of the flat, I cannot get the scooter inside to charge it, so have to do it with the door open.

“I came in, took my books out, put my purse on the table and sat down for a moment.

“Then I realised this woman was stood next to me.”

Mrs Appleton was forced to hand the intruder a cigarette as she sat down and started talking to her.

Mrs Appleton, who suffered a stroke 12 years ago, said: “She started demanding money.

“Her eyes were everywhere, so I put the purse down the side of the chair.

“I was telling her I would not give her money, so she came over and tried to wrestle it off me.

“I managed to get the purse under my bottom so she could not get it.

“Then she said she was going to get a knife.

“As she went off to the kitchen, I pulled my emergency cord so hard it came off the ceiling.

“She was able to take my purse and started running off.”

The woman, described as black and in her 30s, made off with £164, which Mrs Appleton had been saving from her bingo winnings to pay for her funeral.

The pensioner said: “It was very frightening. When I went to ring 999 she had taken my phone.

“I am still scared and shaking today.

“I am scared to charge my mobility scooter because I need to keep the door open.”

She said the sheltered block was not secure from intruders, and need CCTV cameras to protect pensioners living there.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Chris Kearney said: “We are currently investigating this matter as a burglary.”

A 32-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and is in custody.