Thief follows 82-year-old woman back to her home in Outwood

The 82-year-old woman then had to wrestle with the intruder to stop him from stealing her purse.

During the struggle the victim scratched the man’s face but he eventually overpowered her and escaped with her purse and ran off towards Ledger Lane.

Detectives said the victim had returned to her home on Springhill Close, Outwood at about 10.40pm on Saturday,after visiting a shop on Potovens Lane.

They also said the man may have followed his victim back to her home.

Detective Cons Bryn Hampshire, of Wakefield District CID, said: “This was understandably an extremely frightening experience for the victim and identifying the man responsible is an absolute priority for us.

“The victim was returning from visiting a convenience store in Potovens Lane and it is possible that this man has followed her from there or somewhere along the route.

“We are keen to hear from anyone who saw a man matching the suspect’s description in the Potovens Lane/Lingwell Gate Lane area before the offence or who saw a man in the Ledger Lane area afterwards.

“During the struggle that took place in the property, the victim has scratched the man to the face.

“It is not know whether this has left any visible injury but we would urge anyone who knows someone matching this man’s description who has returned home with an unexplained scratch to their face to make contact.”

The suspect was in his late teens or early 20s.

He was about 5ft 4ins tall and was wearing light coloured trousers.

He was also wearing a dark coloured top with the hood pulled tightly around his face .

Anyone with any information should contact Wakefield District CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 08500 555 111.