Woman, 100, dies after neck broken in Derby robbery

Zofija Kaczan, 100, was a well-loved member of the community

A 100-year-old woman has died after suffering multiple injuries including a broken neck when her bag was stolen.

Zofija Kaczan was approached from behind and pushed to the ground in the Normanton area of Derby at about 08:45 BST on Monday 28 May.

Derbyshire Police previously thought her injuries were not life threatening and she was recovering.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery before she died and was released on Tuesday.

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Det Ch Insp Darren De'ath, who is leading the investigation, said: "This crime is absolutely horrific.

"Mrs Kaczan was a well-loved member of the community and that she was targeted in this way is disgusting.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have information about the driver of this Seat Leon

"There are people in Derby who know the person responsible for this crime and I would urge them to come forward with any information that can help bring those responsible to justice.

"We have a number of leads that we are pursuing and a post-mortem will take place to determine a cause of death."

Mrs Kaczan died in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Nisbat Begun, who lived near to Mrs Kaczan, said: "I would see her every morning when I was doing the school run. She was a very independent lady who used to be out all the time and it has shocked me.

"She has lost her life over her handbag. People like that disgust me. Targeting a lady like that when she couldn't defend herself. It is very very sad to hear it happening on your doorstep."

The stolen handbag was found a few hundred yards away from the attack

Mrs Kaczan's green handbag was found dumped a few hundred yards away at the junction of Moore Street and Normanton Road.

A beige Seat Leon was seen in the area at the time of the attack and found abandoned two days later in a car park in Jackson Street, Stockbrook.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have information about the driver of the vehicle, or if they have CCTV or dash cam footage that shows the vehicle with registration plate SL02 KVZ.