A 71-year-old woman was threatened with a knife during a home invasion. Burglars demanded money and drugs in Oldham.
Stella Kelly, age 71, was at her home in Oldham on February 17th when the men raided her home. It happened at 10:13 AM, leaving her with bruises. The three men sought money and drugs.
Mrs. Kelly initially thought it was a joke when two burglars rushed into her living room dressed entirely in black. One of them then threatened to stab her and told her to wait, while the third man searched upstairs for valuables.
One man rummaged through her dead husband Gerry’s belongings, she told BBC. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have asked for tips, but no arrests have been made yet.
Her granddaughter, Donna Molloy, age 33, said her grandma refuses to leave her home despite the ordeal because it is her home and a place that holds memories of her grandad. The burglars violated not only her home but those memories.
Mrs. Kelly recounted her initial defiance, asking them, “What the hell are you playing at?” before the third man came back downstairs and reiterated the demand for money and drugs.
The senior citizen replied she only had her prescription medication. She said he grabbed her phone from the table and then put a knife to her throat.
He threatened to kill her if she didn’t cooperate, indicating they were not afraid of anything. Another burglar pushed her around, leaving bruises on her arm, and she showed where one had pressed a knife against the back of her left hand; her husband died in 2019.
The three men stole her phone and left; Mrs. Kelly has struggled to sleep since then, and she often has sudden memories of the invasion.
She expressed feelings of fear and helplessness, emphasizing her inability to control what would happen and her lack of support.
Her granddaughter spoke through tears and said neighbors love her. Everyone loves her. She is the best grandma.