EXCLUSIVE

by Anna White

Burglars pinned down an elderly woman and beat her until she was bruised and bleeding in a sickening attack.

A thug repeatedly punched and threatened to kill frail Jean Thomas while two accomplices held her down on the bed at her home in Staplehurst.

The 78-year-old widow was asleep when she heard a loud bang just before midnight last Wednesday.

She put on a dressing gown and came face-to-face with three intruders.

In an interview in this week's Kent Messenger, Mrs Thomas said: "I thought there had been an accident or something, I just asked how I could help them.

"i'm frightened to go back at the moment. i can't sleep as each time i try, all i can see is their hooded faces..." – jean thomas

"They pushed me onto the bed and began beating me. I've never seen anyone so angry and violent. They didn't care. They were like animals."

One of the three offenders, all thought to be in their teens, tied a cord around her throat and threatened to kill her unless she gave them money.

As the 5ft 2ins pensioner scrambled on the floor to find her purse, she was hit across the head with a chair.

The trio ransacked the room before heading into another bedroom. The pensioner saw her opportunity to escape and fled to the window.

The burglars left the house empty handed.

She is now too scared to return home and staying with one of her two sons.

Mrs Thomas said: "I'm frightened to go back at the moment. I can't sleep as each time I try, all I can see is their hooded faces."

In a brave move, the great grandmother has volunteered to revealed her injuries in the hope it will encourage other elderly people to keep themselves safe.

She said: "I could have died and I think the only reason I didn't is because I said if they killed me I wouldn't be able to give them any money. I'm worried someone might not think like me and won't be as lucky as I was."

Her son Howard, 43, said: "I was shocked and disgusted when I heard. How could someone do this to an elderly person? I just hope the police catch them."

Officers are keen to speak to the driver of a broken-down estate car who may have witnessed the three feral youths.

The motorist had stopped in nearby Hanmer Way and asked a passerby for the time at about 11.30pm.

The driver is about 20 years old, 5ft 11ins, clean shaven, with blonde hair.

Witnesses told police the car was very dirty.

DS Martin Foord said: "We are very keen to speak with the motorist who is reported to have broken down as he may have seen or heard something that could help us further our investigation and trace the suspects."

Witnesses are asked to call DS Foord on 01622 604243.