Widow loses £1,100 after purse snatched following shopping trip to Dudley

Anita Parkes, from Dudley, also lost photographs of her late husband Bill, who died in August.

The retired grandmother believes she was targeted after using a cashpoint at Barclays in Dudley town centre and says she has been left frightened to withdraw money.

Mrs Parkes, aged 61, had used the Barclays branch in High Street shortly before she realised her purse, which had been in a shopping trolley, was gone.

She believes someone watched her enter her PIN number before her purse was swiped.

Three separate transactions were swiftly made, with a total of £1,140 disappearing from her account.

She described the person who targeted her as 'scum of the earth'.

Mr Parkes said: "I went to the bank first to get a statement. They must have been watching me and got the PIN number.

"I went to Dudley Market Place, by the Duncan Edwards statue, and that's when I've noticed my purse has been taken.

"I went back to the bank to have my cards cancelled but they had already withdrawn it."

Mrs Parkes was also left devastated by the loss of photos of husband Bill, who had died of liver failure only weeks earlier.

"I was crying all the time. I can't explain it," she said.

A gold necklace given to her by her mother was also lost.

The former convenience store manager has since had the money refunded by Barclays but said she was now wary of drawing out money when on her own.

She said: "I'm terrible when I'm shopping, I'm looking over my shoulder all the while. I haven't drawn any money out since, I'm frightened."

Her son Steve Parkes, 41, said: "I was devastated. I was just angry this could happen to her.

"She was still grieving and then this bombshell hit her."

West Midlands Police confirmed they were investigating the theft, which happened on October 12, and have urged anyone with information to contact them on 101.