Burglar broke his 86-year-old victim’s back as he dragged her upstairs by the ankles
POLICE are hunting a violent burglar who dragged an 86-year- old woman upstairs by her ankles, leaving her with a broken back and neck.
Veronica Eustace was also repeatedly kicked and punched during the terrifying ordeal in her home. She was tricked into letting the burglar in after he knocked on her back door shouting ‘Nan, help’.
Her family said she believed it was one of her grandsons but when she looked up and realised her mistake, the thug punched her in the face. After dragging her up the stairs to look for cash, he fled empty-handed.
Mrs Eustace, a retired care home worker, who has four daughters and 18 grandchildren, was in a ‘terrible’ way in hospital last night, her family said. Police have taken the unusual step of naming Nicholas Mason, 43, as ‘prime suspect’ for the attack in South Yardley, Birmingham, at 6.30am on Tuesday.
West Midlands Police released a picture and appealed for information but warned the public not to approach him.
Detective Sergeant Tom Lyons said: ‘ An elderly woman was left with nasty injuries in her own home – the place she should feel the safest – and we are determined to find who was responsible.
‘Nothing was taken, which makes the attack even more disturbing. We are keen to locate this man as soon as possible.’
Mrs Eustace’s family rushed to the pensioner’s home to confront the thug after she managed to call for help.
In a statement they said: ‘We feel physically sick at what this man has done to our Mum. She only celebrated her 86th birthday two weeks ago, with all of her family around her in her home where she felt safe.
‘If he’d have just taken money we could have replaced it but we can’t fix this.’
Her husband, Allan, died in 2016 aged 72. Mrs Eustace’s granddaughter Lindsey McDonough, 32, said: ‘ We are devastated, she is in a really bad way in hospital. She can’t eat and she’s got broken bones in her neck and back. Her face is all smashed in.
‘Who on Earth would do something like this? My nan worked all her life. I’m absolutely heartbroken.’