Man arrested after brave Peterborough grandmother is robbed on her way home

A Peterborough man has been arrested following the robbery of an elderly woman.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jan 2016, 09:40 BST
Updated 14th Jan 2016, 09:43 BST
May Overson of Fletton mugged outside Peterborough Conservative Club EMN-160901-192435009 EMN-160901-192435009May Overson of Fletton mugged outside Peterborough Conservative Club EMN-160901-192435009 EMN-160901-192435009
May Overson of Fletton mugged outside Peterborough Conservative Club EMN-160901-192435009 EMN-160901-192435009

Officers investigating the robbery of 74-year-old grandmother May Overson, from Fletton, at the Conservative Club carpark in Broadway at 10.30pm on December 30 have arrested a 29-year-old man from Peterborough.

He has been released on police bail until February 19.

Mrs Overson was heading to her taxi after a night at the bingo at the Conservative Club when an attacker struck on December 30.

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Mrs Overson put up a brave struggle to keep hold of her bag, but the offender pushed her to the floor, running off, leaving her bleeding badly from her head.

She said: “I remember it clearly. I had come out after playing bingo. The taxi driver had pulled into the car park, and I was going to get into it when the person grabbed me.

“I struggled. I don’t like letting go of my handbag - a hand bag is a woman’s treasure.

“But I fell to the ground, and I think I hit the ground with so much force I had a black out.

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“The taxi driver came over, and went and told people in the club.

“Everyone came out to help.

“They sat me outside, but it was raining, and I wanted to go in. With a bit of help from the barman, I walked inside.

“My head was bleeding badly, so they called the police and the ambulance.

“They thought I was more badly hurt, and wouldn’t let me move, and then they took me to hospital, and I got patched up.

“It was 3am when I got back home.”

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Mrs Overson said the bag had contained some treasured possessions, as well as her bus pass and rail card.

She said: “The most treasured thing was my Olympus Camera. It had some photographs of my garden, and plants - I love gardening, as well as some holiday snaps from about three holidays, and some of my cat. There are lots of lovely photos on their that I won’t get back.

“We cancelled the bank cards straight away, and I got my bus pass back on Friday.”

Brave Mrs Overson said she would not let the mugger stop her from going out.

Mrs Overson has been supported by her family, including husband Richard, since the attack, and said friends had also been and helped, including washing some of her blood stained clothing.