OAP backs appeal after foiling thief

PENSIONER Kenneth Thorpe, who foiled an attempted armed raid on his home, has today backed renewed police appeals for people with information to come forward.

Just over a week ago the 69-year-old fought off a knife-wielding masked man who tried to force his way into his home in Bullards Lane, Woodbridge, in the early hours of the morning.

Detectives have still not tracked down the offender, who rang the doorbell of Mr Thorpe's home at 1.25am brandishing a knife, but are following several leads.

Today Mr Thorpe encouraged anyone who might know anything, to come forward with the information.

He said: "I am not frightened and have tried to put it into the past, although my wife still thinks about it a lot.

"I just wish I had been able to get the balaclava off his head so I could have told the police more about him – I doubt if there were many people about at that time to witness it.

"But these people need to be caught and dealt with properly."

The offender, who called at the house on February 6, is described as white, 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall and was wearing a full face balaclava and dark clothing.

Two nasty crimes have rocked the usually quiet town of Woodbridge in the past month.

In January a 53-year-old woman was indecently assaulted in the Oak Lane car park while she was paying for parking on a busy afternoon.

She was at the top end of the car park when a man aged around 60 indecently assaulted her.

The slim grey-haired assailant then sprinted away along New Street.

He was wearing slim-fitting grey trousers and a zip up burgundy bomber jacket.

Still no-one has been caught, although community policeman Robin Pivett said that had CCTV been installed the attacker may have been caught on camera or the incident might even have been prevented.

A police spokeswoman said about both incidents: "We are pursuing several leads at the moment and have had several interesting calls, which we are still following up.

"We have had a very positive response but are renewing the appeal for more witnesses to come forward."

Anyone with information on either incident should call Woodbridge police on 01473 383460 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.