Middleton man pays tribute to mum who died following robbery

Died following robbery: Freda Seaton

The family of 76-year-old Freda Seaton who died after undergoing hip surgery after being pushed over by a robber are appealing for help catching the person responsible.

Freda (born 28/11/1930) of Wallis Street in Newton Heath had been on her way home from the local shop on August 11 2007 when the robbery happened.

David Seaton, Freda's son, a 52-year-old bridge examiner of Norman Street, Middleton said of his mother: "She was a lovely woman, she was my world. She wouldn't say boo to a goose. She had loads and loads of friends. She made friends wherever she went.
 
"She was someone there for me all the time. If I ever had a problem I'd just phone her up. She just protected me from everything and loved me. I loved her."
 
"I used to talk to her every day on the phone. I used to answer the phone and say 'hi mum' before she'd said anything. I knew it'd be her, it was just one of those things. All this has happened and now I haven't got anyone to talk to."
 
"She was determined to fight but right at the end she'd had enough. She couldn't fight anymore. When I went out of the room in the  hospital she told my sons she'd had enough and wanted to die. She couldn't tell me that."
 
"While she was in hospital I didn't think anything about the person who did this, I just wanted my mum to get right."
 
"Apparently Newton Heath hasn't been the same place since it happened. You don't see old folk going shopping. It's like they're  scared."
 
"It's devastated us, but it has brought us all together."
 
"We are devastated. It's been devastating for everyone who knew her. Something needs to be done about this. We need to catch  this bloke, it's not right."
 
"If anyone has got any information please come forward and go to the police. This guy has got to be a coward."

Since she was robbed Ms Seaton spent weeks in North Manchester General Hospital, after having an operation to mend her hip, which was broken by the fall.

She never fully recovered from her operation. She died in hospital in the early hours of Thursday 30 August 2007.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for information about who is responsible for robbing Freda, and ultimately causing her death.

Freda had been walking back from the shop at about 12.50pm on Saturday 11 August 2007 when the robbery happened.

She was walking along Loring Street, after having gone down Church Street, left onto All Saint's Street and right onto Droylsden Road when she felt somebody run up behind her and push her over.

As she fell Freda banged her head on a nearby wall and felt somebody pull her bag away from her.

From the floor where she was lying Freda then saw a man run away from her and down the alleyway that runs off Loring Street behind the chemist.

She described him as being taller than her at more than 5ft 6in tall, and all in grey.

Unable to get up because of her injury, Freda then was forced to lie on the pavement until somebody passed and called an ambulance.

Just after she was robbed Freda Seaton made the following statement: "I refuse to let these people grind me down, and I am determined that this shouldn't happen to anybody else. I want anybody who thinks they could help catch this person to contact the police, because I can't bear to think anybody else would have to have this happen to them."

Anyone with any information about this robbery is asked to contact police 0161 856 2493 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.