ROBBERS who held a pensioner at knifepoint in her home to steal jewellery are still at large.
Balwinder Dhami, 69, was subjected to a 15-minute ordeal by four attackers who barged their way into her Kimberley home.
They used a kitchen knife to threaten her and squirted her with detergent, as well as pouring two bottles of Lucozade over her after she became unconscious from their punches.
Five days afterwards, Mrs Dhami had a heart attack.
Now, six months later – and after two weeks in intensive care and nine weeks in hospital – the grandmother-of-three is back at home.
But son Harnack Dhami, 42, says she is a different woman since the attack.
"My mum used to be very vibrant. She was outgoing and did stuff within the community, she travelled abroad alone, she was very independent and didn't rely on anyone," he said.
"Since the attack and being in hospital, she's become very frail – she looks about 100. She's lost so much weight
"She's also very subdued and quiet, not talkative at all. I'm trying to bring her out of her shell but she's a completely different person."
Mrs Dahmi's attackers forced their way into her bungalow in Bassett Close after she answered the door at about 8pm on August 25.
They punched her, then dragged her by her hair and pinned her in a corner.
One attacker was sent to the kitchen to keep watch while the two others looked for money and jewellery.
The fourth kept guard over Mrs Dhami – punching her repeatedly and threatening her with a kitchen knife.
As well as pouring Lucozade over Mrs Dhami, who drinks it because she has diabetes, the robbers poured it over the carpet and furniture.
Mr Dhami and his mother have been frustrated by the lack of progress in the case and Mr Dhami complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on Thursday. He said: "It's a worry because while they are still out there, this could happen to someone else and next time it could end in someone dying."
No-one from Notts Police was available to comment.
Mr Dhami, of Leicester, wants to raise awareness about Asian families being targeted by thieves.
He wants more advice about how they should protect themselves and their homes and has written to Leicester MP Keith Vaz about the issue.
