A MANIAC who has brought terror to the elderly in small area of Bolton must be caught or he could kill, police warned today. Since the New Year a youth with a knife has targeted elderly women in Deane and Daubhill, snatching their handbags. Police believe he has struck at least five times within the space of a few hundred yards.

On most occasions he has threatened his victims with the knife and detectives say the attacks are becoming increasingly violent.

As reported in last night's BEN, a 79-year-old widow was stabbed in the face by the knifeman in Willows Lane.

Police say the youth stabbed the woman then grabbed her handbag, which contained £40.

He continued kicking and punching her as she lay helpless on the pavement. The victim, who the BEN has agreed not to name, is still in hospital with stab wound and broken arm.

Her nephew, Trevor Whiteley, says he was horrified when he first saw her: "She was covered in blood and completely black and blue from her eye down to her chin. "I wouldn't like to say what I would like to do to whoever did this."

Mr Whiteley said the mugger's knife struck her eyebrow. "If it had gone through her eye we could be talking murder," he said. The other attacks the man is believed to have carried out are:

New Year's Eve. Just before 7pm, a 56-year-old woman was mugged on Kylemore Avenue, Deane.

New Year's Day. A 62-year-old woman had her handbag taken in nearby Lenora Street.

January 6. At 9.20pm a 76-year-old woman on Park View Road had her handbag, containing £500, taken from her at knife-point.

January 11. Just before 4pm in Glen Avenue, a 75-year-old woman had £200 taken. Three days later Mr Whiteley's aunt was attacked. A detective from Bolton CID said today: "The violence he uses has been getting steadily worse.

"We are horrified to think what he might do next. We don't want a murder on our hands."

Daubhill Cllr Tom Anderton, who lives on Willows Lane, said: "All the old people in this area are very worried and afraid to go out at night. "Everyone seems to think that the people who are doing this are after money to feed their drugs habit." The man is aged 18 to 20, 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall. He wore dark clothing.

Anyone who can help with any information is asked to contact Bolton Central CID on Bolton 522466.

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