Residents react to ‘shocking’ attack

Shops on Spotland Road that the old lady was heading to

Residents in the local area are describing an attack on a 90-year-old woman as “shocking” and “terrible.”

Speaking to Rochdale Online, Chief Superintendent Alistair Mallen said: “As a former detective, I am confident that we will do all that we can to bring this person to justice.

“The lady is amazing and now just wants to get back to normal. She is back on her feet and just wants to get back to her daily routine and normal life.

“We are absolutely overwhelmed from the response of the general public and the community in Rochdale in coming forward to help with this investigation. Not only has it been people from the local area but people nationally have come forward to say how disgusting this is. We have had a number of witnesses come forward who said they have seen things and we are working with one witness in particular who says they saw a man acting suspiciously in that area.”

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning (24 June) has shaken the local community with some residents feeling a bit more on edge than usual.

One resident who did not want to be named described the incident as “terrible” and added: “I am more cautious now; it has made me very wary.”

Alarna Morris, who works at Preview said: “People must be scared. I would say it is usually quiet but this has really shocked and scared people.”

Lindsey Jolly who lives in the area said: “It has scared me a bit because my mum lives in the flats and she walks her dog at that time of a morning so it scares me that it could have been her. It has put me on edge a little bit because I would say it is usually quiet round here.”

Barbara Worrall who has lived in the area for 27 years feared she knew the woman attacked. She said: “There is a chance I know her because of her age. I imagine she has lived here for a while as have I. It is just terrible that this has happened. I walk all the way around now instead of cutting through the flats because it scares me. It has really shocked the community I think.”

Salama Khan said: “I am shocked. There are gangs that hang around in the alley ways that put people on edge but I am just shocked that this could have happened to someone of that age.”

Superintendent Mallen added: “We have upped police patrols in the area and they will stay in place until next week when we look at the investigation again. If people are scared then they should not hesitate to ring the police on 101.”

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has also asked the local community to help identify the attacker describing the attack as something that had “sickened the town to its core”. 

It is understood that the lady is well known in the area and is a regular customer at Chrimes E&M butchers. Steven from the butchers added: “She is in here a lot and we all know her.”

The lady was attacked at around 6:45am after she left her home to walk to the butchers. As she walked along Spotland Road she felt a hand go over her mouth and she was dragged backwards. She lost consciousness and woke on the floor.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.