Woman, 81, killed in street mugging 'ignored by passers-by as she called for help'

An 81-year-old widow who died after being mugged was ignored as she lay on the pavement pleading for help.

Passers-by refused to stop and help Molly Morgan, thinking that she was drunk.

The retired architect was on her way to a lecture at her local library in Harrow, North-West London, on Thursday night when her shoulder bag was snatched.

This caused her to fall to the ground, causing serious head injuries and a broken arm.

Mrs Morgan managed to tell police that a man walked right past her, even though she asked him for help.

She lay on the ground for ten minutes until two women - who had initially crossed to the other side of the road to avoid her - heard her cries and came to her aid.

Detective Chief Inspector Jessica Wadsworth, from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: 'I need to trace this man and any other people who saw Mrs Morgan lying on the pavement, since they are vital witnesses and will be able to help me find who killed Mrs Morgan.'

"It is our belief that this man and other people in the area who didn't assist the victim may tragically not have realized that Mrs Morgan had been attacked and was in considerable pain."

'We know from some witnesses that they had assumed she was merely a drunk on the street.'

The man who walked past her is described as white, in his late 20s, wearing a black, woolly hat with a ring around it and a long black coat. Mrs Morgan was still conscious when police arrived and was able to tell them a little about the attack but she did not see the mugger because he approached from behind before running off.

Mrs Morgan, whose husband William died in 1997, was taken to hospital but her condition deteriorated and she died shortly before 4am the following morning.

A post-mortem examination found that she died from a blood clot on the brain.

Neighbour and close friend Rajeshwar Pershad, 76, whose wife Evelyn shared an allotment with Mrs Morgan, said: 'I just don't know what to say. I think in the circumstances people should have stopped at the very least.'

'There is just no harm in stopping and getting help when you see someone lying there.'

'Lots of people are just very aggressive in this world. I just can't understand what has happened, I don't know what the world is coming to.'

Police are also appealing for passengers on any 114 bus that ran past the spot on Streatfield Road where Mrs Morgan was attacked between 7.30pm and 8pm to come forward.

Her daughter Hilary, an artist, has painted a picture of the brown leather-effect bag that the mugger stole.

All that was inside was a gold Primark umbrella, an extension lead and an empty Sainsbury's plastic bag.

Neither the bag nor any of its contents have been found.

Paying tribute to her mother, she said: 'My mum was so active and full of life. I still can't believe she has been taken away from me.'

'I am her only daughter and we were close. She encouraged me in my dream of going to art school.'

The pensioner had set off from her home for Kenton library for a lecture about London buildings that she had organized on behalf of the Workers' Education Association.

Her bus did not arrive on time so she decided to walk the mile-long journey.

She was just a few hundred yards from the library when she was attacked.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.