A 76-year-old Singleton resident is recovering at home from multiple serious injuries after three children pushed her off a mobility scooter on Saturday morning while she made her way back home from a routine shopping trip.
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Only 500 metres from her home on Castlereagh Street, a group of four young children on push scooters approached Vera Nottle as she was travelling down Primrose Lane at about 9am.
Mrs Nottle says she gave way to the group - consisting of three older children and a younger one - and they passed her.
However, moments later the three older children were at her side and pushed her off the scooter and onto the ground.
With blood gushing from a wound above her eye, pain in her left wrist, and sore ribs on her right side, she managed to make her way home.
Her shocked son, Vimal who resisted the temptation to chase down the perpetrators and take the law into his own hands, took her straight to Singleton Hospital.
At the hospital the gash above her eye was stitched and after various x-rays taken, she was transferred to John Hunter Hospital for further treatment.
A doctor’s report The Argus was shown says she has a fractured left wrist, right maxilla fracture (nose and cheek area) and a broken 5th and 6th rib (right side).
She says the younger child became upset when the older boys pushed her off the scooter and begged them to stop.
“The smaller child actually helped me back up before the older boys ran off,” Mrs Nottle says.
“They were actually trying to push the scooter over; and it would have fallen on top of me but he protested.”
Hunter Valley Duty Officer, Inspector Joanne Schultz, is asking the community for assistance.
“Understandably, this lady is distressed by the incident – her family is extremely upset – and we believe the Singleton community will be horrified to think this has happened in their town,” Insp Schultz says.
“Police are appalled by this report and are committed to find those responsible”
“We are very keen to speak with anyone who may have information about the incident, and believe four boys – aged around 12 or 13 and who were in the vicinity of Primrose Lane at the time – may be able to help police with this investigation.
“Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Singleton Police or Crime Stoppers.”
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
We remind people they should not report crime information via our social media pages.
Vimal says his mother who is on strong painkillers is lucky to be alive and has a long road ahead in terms of her recovery.
“She will have to attend the fracture clinic in Maitland to assess the extent of her injuries this week but the big worry is her ribs and possible pneumonia,” he says.