"MY BLOOD ran cold thinking what could have happened to her."

Those were the words of Mandy Melka, after her mother Carol Riddell was threatened as she walked with a friend at a York beauty spot, just days after the death of her partner of 16 years.

Carol, 71, of Burton Stone Lane, was walking with a friend in Clifton Backies, where she and her partner Doug Heald used to go, when a teenage mugger tried to rob them. He fled when the women bravely defied his threats.

The friend said she was determined not to let the robber get away with their handbags after all Carol had been through.

York Press:

Mandy Melka: "My blood ran cold"

Mandy said: "I was absolutely horrified. Mum's lived in Burton Stone Lane all her life and nothing like this has happened before. We all grew up here and it's horrifying to think two little old ladies getting mugged.

"My blood ran cold thinking what could have happened to her. She wasn't in a mood to be messed with. She's got a strong will but could have gone terribly differently."

York Press:

Carol's friend at the scene

Carol's friend, who asked not to be named, said: "I heard him grunting 'Oi', and I turned round and he was about a foot away with his hoodie wrapped round his face so we couldn't see anything below his eyes and wielding a two-foot long branch, about two inches wide, up in the air and said 'give us the bag and you won't get hurt'.

"I just looked at him defiantly in the eye and said no, so he was a bit flummoxed. He said it again, 'drop the bag', and I said no, we're not going to give you the bag, knowing what Carol has just gone through. I took the mobile out of my pocket and showed him it and started talking to him, describing what he was wearing and he just ran off like a scared rabbit."

Mandy said: "It was great thinking. They weren't to be messed with.

"To give mum credit they'd planned to go and spend some time thinking about Doug so after they gave police their statements they went back up there and did just that."

Carol's friend said: "I didn't want Carol's memory of that place turned bad. We went back to her house for dinner, then went back and walked round again. I think that was helpful. I fell on my face in the mud, so I hope that's Carol's memory of that day."

Mandy said she and her brother had been stunned and astounded by the response from the public to the incident, and the outrage shown on social media towards the mugger, but her main concern was her mother's health.

She said: "It's hitting her now. When it happened she was already quite numb from the loss of Doug, so I think she was already in shock. You can't go through something like that and not be affected. She's fragile.

"I'm so proud of her. I don't know where she's finding her strength from. Something like this happening to anyone in isolation is enough to tip someone over the edge, but to have gone through such an awful loss within such a short time is heartbreaking."

Mandy said police had arranged for a specialist support officer to visit Carol and help her deal with what happened.

Can you help?

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said there had been an encouraging response to their appeal to identify the mugger and urged anyone with information to:

  • Phone 101
  • Or phone Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
  •  

Doug was a generous artist and adventurer

DOUGLAS Heald, the partner of Carol Riddell, was a York artist, adventurer and animal welfare campaigner. He died after a short illness, aged 71.

Mr Heald, who was educated at Shipton Street School and later York Art School, spent much of his youth roaming freely on the Clifton Backies, sparking a life-long passion for natural history and conservation.

His daughter Sarah said: “Doug’s sense of adventure saw him join the Merchant Navy and included a period of time on the Queen Elizabeth.

“These voyages set the scene for a wanderlust which lasted for the rest of his life. He later worked in graphic design, which led to him becoming a freelance artist and owning two art galleries based in the city centre.

“His main theme was York and its architecture and he would often be seen with his easel in York’s many beauty spots. In later years, he concentrated on watercolour scenes of his beloved Yorkshire Dales and Moors.”

Sarah said her father ran marathons, climbed mountains and cycled everywhere, and travelled round the globe. He later became an ardent campaigner for the many causes close to his heart, in particular animal welfare and the preservation and protection of the city of York, including its historical buildings and sites.

Sarah added: “Doug volunteered as a York tour guide to share his enthusiasm and knowledge of York with others. Always generous with his causes, throughout his lifetime he donated most of his wealth to charity, benefitting both people and the environment.”

She said he left behind his partner Carole, three children Paula, James and Sarah and six grandchildren.
“He will be greatly missed by all,” she added.

Mr Heald’s funeral will be held service will take place at York Crematorium at 11am next
Friday.