VIDEO: Detectives appeal after Castleford care home stabbing

Grandmother-of-six Christine Pygott, 67, was working at the Beeches care home, in Castleford, when a man burst into the kitchen at around 6.30am on Saturday.

Mrs Pygott said she was making breakfast for the residents when she heard a noise at the back door.

When she opened it she was confronted by a man who forced his way in to the Ferrybridge Road care home.

He pushed her to ground and went to punch her before six other care home staff rushed to help her.

The intruder kicked Mrs Pygott while she was on the ground and she shouted to other workers at the home to grab hold of him.

Mrs Pygott said: “He lunged down at me. I put my arm up and it wasn’t until I moved my arm and he turned to flee out of the door I saw the blade- I just screamed ‘he’s stabbed me, he’s stabbed me.’”

She was rushed to hospital and underwent an exploratory operation to assess the damage to her stab wound.

Detectives said the attack at The Beeches was being linked to another incident at the Breadalbane Nursing Home, on Park Avenue, about 20 minues earlier.

A member of staff confronted two men at the property who made excuses before leaving the area.

Det Supt Nick Wallen, of the Protective Services (Crime) Division, said: “Due to both properties being care homes and their vicinity to one another, we are linking these incidents.

“It is particularly concerning that these men appear to be targeting the homes of elderly and vulnerable people and their motives for doing this are currently unclear The investigation has moved forward and we have CCTV images of two individuals who seemed to be running away fromt he care home in the general direction of the town centre and as they pass the Civic Centre they arer removing their jackets.

“They are then seen going back towards the Airedale etsate past the cemetery there and by the time they get there their jackets have been removed.

“I would ask now if anyone has got any information at all. If you saw those people and thought it was suspicious this is the time to come forward.

“Similarly, if you think you know who is responsible for this cowardly, vicious, unprovoke and unjustifiable attack then please come forward because your information will be crucial and lead to a very dangerous individual being taken off the streets.”

“Anyone who believes they have seen these suspects or who has any information about their identities is asked to call Wakefield District CID on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“In an emergency situation please call 999.”