'There was blood everywhere. I have never seen so much'

In a frenzied attack, the intruder shook Mary Burton so violently by her hair that she needed 21 stitches to her scalp.

The youth barged open the pensioner's front door and knocked her to the ground as he demanded cash.

He left Mrs Burton lying in a pool of her own blood. Her injuries are expected to take weeks to heal.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, the shocking robbery took place at Mrs Burton's bungalow in Horsman Avenue, off Cemetery Road in York, some time between 9.30pm and 10pm on Monday.

Detectives have made house-to-house inquiries and believe the robber may have called at other houses in the street in the minutes before the attack.

Mrs Burton, 77, who worked at a number of pubs and post offices across York, said she answered a knock at the door because she thought it might be her son, Martin.

She said: "As I opened it, before it was fully open, it was flung open and he pushed me in and slammed it behind him.

"I fell back and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. I can still see the blood on the floor where I fell.

"He grabbed me by the hair. He said he wanted money to see his mother at Leeds hospital.

"He was banging his fists on the top of my head. He grabbed my hair. He was horrified by the amount of blood."

She added: "I was in pain. You can only imagine. There was blood everywhere. I've never seen so much blood.

"He was so young. He looked horrified when he saw the blood running down my face."

She told how the attack eventually came to an end and the robber's mood seemed to change.

"He let me get up and I went into the bedroom to get my purse. I gave him some money and off he went.

"He said: 'I'm so sorry, I didn't mean this to happen.' I rang my son and he called the police and the ambulance."

Speaking about her attacker, she added: "He looked about 16 or 17. He didn't look very old. His clothes were covered in blood. He was absolutely horrified.

"I felt sorry for him. But I don't understand him. He looked so young and so horrified when he saw the blood running down my face.

Detectives vow to catch Mary's attacker

"When I was a child things like this just didn't seem to happen."

Detective Constable Ian Murray said: "We are doing everything we can to catch the person responsible for this offence.

"It's a very serious incident resulting in serious injury to the victim - an unnecessary act on a frail, 77-year-old woman."

He said officers want to speak to anyone who may have been in the Horsman Avenue area at the time of the attack.

He said the attack was "extremely serious" and that officers were determined to bring the culprit to justice.

He described the attacker as white, about 5ft 4ins, aged between 16 and 17, of slim build with a thin face and short fair hair.

He was clean shaven, wore glasses and spoke with a York accent. He wore a black jacket, perhaps a waterproof coat. Forensic officers have examined the scene of the attack and inquiries with neighbours were continuing today.

Mrs Burton said she has lived in the bungalow, which is due to be demolished, since before Christmas last year.

Before she retired, Mrs Burton worked at a string of York pubs including the Edinburgh Arms, The Magpie and the Black Bull in Hull Road.

She has two sons and a daughter, who is currently on holiday in the United States. All three still live in the York area.

If you have any information about the attack, phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 24 7.

If you would like more advice on making your home more secure, phone Safer York on 01904 669069.

Brutal attack on vulnerable pensioner sparks advice

THE brutal attack on Mary Burton provoked shocked reactions today.

Jane Mowat, director of Safer York Partnership, said the incident was a "particularly nasty attack" on a vulnerable member of the community.

She said Safer York worked with charity Age Concern to help make elderly people more secure in their homes through advice, home visits and the installation of security equipment.

She added that neighbourhood watch groups can provide advice on locks, door chains and spy holes that can help protect vulnerable people.

Don Parlabean, 67, chairman of the York Older People's Assembly, called on pensioners to be extra vigilant and not to open the door to strangers.

"It's totally horrendous that someone would stoop so low to do this sort of thing," he said.

"I even leave a door chain on myself at night these days. We do try and give as much information out to elderly people as possible."

If you would like more advice on making your home more secure, phone Safer York on 01904 669069.

Updated: 11:51 Thursday, October 27, 2005