Man Held After Pensioner Attack

Detectives are continuing to question a man who was arrested in connection with a “horrific” attack on a 75-year-old woman in her home.

Police say Annie Williams was punched and kicked several times causing face fractures and bruising.

Her car was taken from her driveway in the Fforestfach area of Swansea and later found on fire.

A 27-year-old man is in police custody and is being questioned by officers investigating the attack.

Officers believe Annie Williams, known locally as Nancy, was attacked in her bedroom after a burglar broke into her house. Her handbag was stolen.

Following the attack, her son gave permission for a graphic picture showing the extent of her injuries to be released.

Mrs Williams is being treated at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. where doctors say she is making good progress.

Chief Supt Mark Matthias, divisional commander for Swansea, appealed for information about the crime.

“An attack has taken place, an horrific attack,” he said.

“We believe she was punched and kicked. She was certainly sustained fractures to the front of her face.

“She has severe bruising to the top half of her body.

“I certainly have not seen the nature or circumstance of the offence in the 25-years I have been a serving officer and that’s why I would like to say it is rare.

“However it is a horrific attack which we are taking seriously.”

Neighbours living nearby have said they are frightened by what has happened to Mrs Williams.

Catherine Gwyn who on the street said: “There was no noise, no inkling of what was going on until my husband said at about three o’clock in the morning that he heard a crashing and a car driving away, which being here as long as we have is not unusual, but of course now we realise that they had taken her car from the drive and smashed through the gates.”

She said despite being attacked during the early hours of Saturday morning, she wasn’t found until much later that day.

Mrs Gwyn said: “An elderly relative of hers was taken to the house at half past eleven as was always on a Saturday morning.

“Realising the back door was open and the car was gone she thought Nancy had gone out.

“Then about two o’clock in the afternoon she went to a neighbour’s and said it was a bit strange, Nancy hasn’t showered this morning and realised that Nancy could be ill in bed and the old lady went upstairs and found her in that state.”

Officers said the burglar forced his way into Mrs Williams’s house via the back of the premises.

As wells as the victim’s handbag, containing her purse and a number of cards, her car, a silver Suzuki Ignis GL, registration CP03 SYW, was also stolen.

Police said it is believed the vehicle was driven through locked gates and was later discovered on fire near the entrance of the Woodlands Caravan Site at Swansea Road, Waunarlwydd, at 0430 BST on Sunday.

Police said Mrs Williams’s handbag and the majority of its contents had been recovered.

Anyone with information should contact Swansea CID on 01792 562731 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.