A police manhunt has been launched after a woman was attacked in her home by a knife-wielding robber.
It is believed the masked man was waiting inside the woman's semi-detached house in West Ella Road, Kirk Ella, when the attack happened in broad daylight on Wednesday afternoon.The 27-year-old victim suffered serious injuries to her hand and has been left in severe shock.
It happened less than 50 yards from St Andrews Community Primary School, at 4.30pm. Parents have spoken of their shock after spotting a man acting suspiciously in a small woodland, close to the school, about an hour before the attack happened.
One woman, who only gave her name as Natalie, said: "I was on my way to pick up my daughter from school and I could see a man through the trees and sitting on a wall. He looked very suspicious. He had a large bag and was just staring at a house opposite him.
"It was like he was waiting for something. It was quite intimidating.
"He was wearing a grey jacket, which looked like it was some kind of work uniform, and had short, dark hair.
"I had a bad feeling about him and didn't get too close."
Samantha Green, 40, said: "I was walking away from the school and I noticed this strange-looking man.
"I didn't recognise him as someone local.
"He was sitting on a wall and staring through some trees at a row of houses.
"He looked nervous. He was sweating a bit and kept looking at his wrist. Maybe he was wearing a watch."
Armed police were deployed to the corner of West Ella Road and School Lane in the village at about 5pm but the intruder had fled the scene.
He had stolen the woman's handbag containing a large amount of money. Police described him as 5ft 7in, slim and wearing a grey jacket.
Jamie Church, headteacher at St Andrews School, confirmed one of his teachers ran out to give first aid to the woman – who had made her way out of the house after the attack.
Mr Church said: "One of my teachers, Mr Wood, went straight outside to help the woman.
"There were quite a few people outside trying to help her. It is usually such a quiet village."
The victim was eventually taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment.
Detective Inspector Alan Bentham, of Humberside Police, said: "This was an extremely frightening experience for the victim and we are keen to hear from anyone who has any information about the incident.
"It was a busy time of day when people would have been around in the local area.
"I am appealing to anyone who may have seen a man matching the description in the local area at the time of the incident.
"This is a cowardly act on an innocent woman and she has been severely shaken by the incident.
"I am sure someone will have seen something and I urge them to contact us immediately with any information they might have."
Anyone with information about the incident should call Humberside Police on 101, quoting crime reference number CM/2070429/2014. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
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