AN 80-year-old man was thrown from a speeding van and his wife was left lying in the gutter after a horrific mugging.

The pensioner was pushed into the street after he climbed into the robber's van, and his wife was flung into the gutter by the force of the vehicle speeding away.

The Bolton News:

Maria Stewart was pushed into the street as the van sped away.

Frank and Maria Stewart were just minutes from their Topp Street home in Farnworth when their nightmare began.

The couple were making their way home from a party at Farnworth and Kearsley Labour Club just before 1am.

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Mrs Stewart said: “A van pulled up on Higher Market Street and a man got out and said he needed to relieve himself.

“I said ‘I don’t want to see that’ and turned away. Quick as a flash, he grabbed my handbag off my shoulder and ran back to his van.

“The passenger door was unlocked so my husband got in to try and get my bag, but after a short distance the man threw him out.”

Mrs Stewart had reached the van just as the driver sped away, and the force flung her into the gutter.

Seconds later her husband was pushed into the street.

The Bolton News:

Maria Stewart.

Mr Stewart suffered a black eye, grazing to his face and a damaged hip, and Mrs Stewart’s arm is still in a sling after she chipped two parts of her elbow bone in the mugging. Her right ankle was also damaged and her fingers were swollen.

“I was shaking like a leaf,” she said. “It has really affected my confidence, so much so that the next time we went to the Labour club we got a taxi even though it is only two minutes away.”

The robber threw her handbag out of the van at the end of the street. A passer-by saw it and returned the bag to Mrs Stewart. She said: “It was bizarre. He had taken things like my glasses case and some tobacco, but left my mobile phone and my keys.”

Mrs Stewart has not been able to face watching a CCTV video of the mugging for fear it will be too upsetting. Mr Stewart is so traumatised that he declined to be photographed.

The mugger was described as white, about 33, around 5ft 8 inches tall and spoke with a Bolton accent.

Mrs Stewart said: “I couldn’t believe what he’s done. He’s an absolute scumbag.”

She was X-rayed and treated for her injuries at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Police are investigating the matter.

Anybody with information should contact police on 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.