A Benfleet man has saved a holiday for an elderly woman by donating the money she had stolen by youths last week.
Kiss of thanks - Flo gives John a smacker Picture: ROB BROWNE
Robbery victim Florence Brooks said she had had her faith in human nature restored after two Echo readers offered to replace her stolen holiday cash.
Mrs Brooks, 92, was devastated after the money she had been saving for a much-needed break was taken by a gang of five youths, one armed with an iron bar.
She was going into her house in Pine Close, Wickford, when the youths - aged between ten and 15 - distracted her while one stole her purse.
They had insisted helping her in with her shopping trolley but, once inside, one reached into the trolley to grab her handbag which contained £100 for her holiday.
Evening Echo reader John Hall, of Steeple Heights, Benfleet, was so incensed after reading Mrs Brooks's ordeal that he offered to give her the £100 she lost.
He said: "My father was mugged 13 years ago and didn't survive it. So when I read about Mrs Brooks I really wanted to help."
Published Tuesday July 27, 2004
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