Sunderland pensioner, 90, finds confidence to return to city centre after wallet containing £2,000 was stolen from his hands

The theft took place at 7.30am on Monday, August 17, as the elderly man waited to meet his daughter outside of the Virgin Money bank on Fawcett Street.

A man, believed to be in his 20s, is said to have targeted the vulnerable pensioner, taking the wallet from his hands before riding away on a bike.

The man, who does not wish to be named, was not injured but left shaken.

Now his family have confirmed the pensioner has refused to allow thieves to take away his independence and returned to the city centre just days after the incident.

Daughter, Audrey Brand, 58, said: “We didn’t want this to stop him from doing the things he wants to do.

“But he was back in the city centre on the Wednesday and Thursday after the incident to do his shopping.

"He is feeling a lot better as he was tense and upset before.

"It was just a moment of forgetfulness and he knows now not to take his wallet out unless he is in a shop or I’m with him.

"He is fine in himself and he’s not hurt.”

Days after the incident a Just Giving page was set up by kind stranger Daniella Hanson with the aim of raising £2,000 for the pensioner.

And in just a week the effort has raised £910, leaving the family overwhelmed by the city’s generosity.

Daughter Audrey said: “We want to say thank you.

“We just wanted to make people aware, never in my wildest dreams did we think anything like this would happen.

"It is so kind. My colleagues at St Anthony’s Academy also held a collection and raised £120.

"Dad is so happy to know that people care about him.

"We are a very friendly lot in Sunderland, it’s just a minority of people that do things like this.”

Northumbria Police inquires are still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 or online, quoting log 168 170820.

To donate to the appeal visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/daniella-hanson-1?utm_term=p8bMPXWmK

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