A ROBBER stole a disabled great-grandmother’s mobility scooter, then went back and threatened to stab her to try to get the key.

The crime has left 66-year-old Alice King living in fear at her Almondbury home.

The distinctive four-wheeled Cordoba scooter was later found crashed into a nearby wall.

But Alice will not get it back for several days while it is examined for fingerprints and other evidence.

It was not insured, so Alice will have to pay to have it professionally checked over and any repairs made.

Until all that is done she is a prisoner in her own home.

Alice – who has six children, 18 grandchildren and some great-grandchildren – suffers from arthritis in her spine.

She also has a bad heart, which means she has to take a range of medication.

The thief first struck when he rolled the scooter away from outside Alice’s home on Eastlands at around 8pm on Monday night.

A friend who had taken her two small dogs for a walk noticed it was gone and phoned the police.

Around half-an-hour later there was a knock on Alice’s door.

Alice was resting on her bed and by the time she answered the door it was thought no-one was there.

But then she saw a man staggering around on a nearby path. When he saw Alice he went towards her.

“He called me a bitch and said he wanted the key to the scooter,’’ said Alice. “He said he had a knife and was waving something around in his hand.

“He said if I didn’t hand the key over, he’d stab me.

“He was very threatening and I realised he meant business. I managed to put the chain on and close the door. There was a bang outside; I think he must have kicked the door. He was in such a frenzy.

“After that I went to pieces and phoned the police. They came very quickly, but I’m frightened to be here now.’’

Police and some of Alice’s friends and relatives searched the area, but could find no trace of the man or the scooter that night.

The scooter was found yesterday morning crashed into a wall near The Lion pub on Hurst Knowle.

The robber is a mixed race African-Caribbean in his late teens or early 20s, 5ft 7in tall and slim.

He spoke with a strong, street-style West Indian accent and was scruffily dressed in a dark hooded top.

“I just can’t stop shaking,’’ said Alice. “I can’t believe he came back for the key, but perhaps he’d arranged to sell the scooter to someone and it is very heavy to push. He may have damaged it pushing it all that way.

“I’m just so frightened. I go to town on the scooter once a week and it takes me an hour there and an hour back. It’s the highlight of my week. That bit of independence is so important to me.

“I love going to town, especially to Queensgate Market and the Jack Fulton food shop because people there are so friendly and helpful.

“Now it means I’m stuck at home until I get the scooter back. Going out is what keeps me going in life.

“I’m in constant pain from my back and feet and my heart means that some days I have to go back to bed early in the afternoon.’’

The scooter is worth £3,000, but when the documents came Alice was so poorly she never got round to sorting them out and then forgot.

Det Con Russ Conlon, of Kirklees CID intelligence unit, said: “This is a callous crime against a vulnerable victim.

“We would make a direct plea to anyone who knows who has done this to contact us immediately.’’

Phone detectives in Huddersfield on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers free and anonymously on 0800 555 111.