Youths are bailed over bag snatch (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Youths are bailed over bag snatch

The drawings which were put up on posters around the area after the bag snatchTHE Advertiser has helped police arrest two youths suspected of breaking a woman's shoulder in a violent bag snatch.

The two 16-year-olds were arrested after the Advertiser produced posters that were put up around the area.

The 56-year-old victim of the attack is still too terrified to leave home alone and has to have a plastic shoulder fitted because the bone was shattered.

The attack happened at noon on August 30, as the woman walked along the old canal path at the rear of Tennyson Street.

The woman, who has been asked to be called Susan because she is too terrified to use her real name, suffered a broken shoulder and cuts and bruises as she tried to stop her bag being stolen.

She is waiting to have a plastic shoulder joint fitted after a bone was shattered in the attack.

It means she will not be able to raise her arm above waist level for the rest of her life.

One youth was arrested on September 26 and the other on September 29.

After questioning they were released on police bail pending inquiries.

They have to return to Gablecross police station later this month.

Police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said: "Following the appeal for information by the Advertiser officers were given lines of inquiry, which led to their arrest."

Susan had first seen two youths near Cambria Bridge and they followed her until they came up behind her and attempted to snatch her bag.

The force of the attack made her fall and she was dragged across gravel but kept hold of her bag.

"I'm still in bits," she said. "I'm too afraid to go out on my own and if I really have to, to collect shopping, then I book taxis but it's costing me a fortune.

"Because the bone was smashed I am having to have a plastic shoulder fitted but that means I won't be able to raise it higher than my waist.

"I also get terrific headaches al the time."

"I can't do my job anymore. I used to care for the elderly and do things they can't do like window cleaning but I can't now.

"The only good thing is that my family have been so very supportive."

Lyndsay Scanlan