The family of a pensioner attacked in broad daylight say a frailer victim could have been killed.
The great-grandmother was set upon by a gang of nine teenagers who followed her along Rannoch Road in Perth on Saturday afternoon.
As she waited at a bus stop they demanded cash from her and when she refused to hand it over, the “cowardly” teens began kicking her in the face and body, leaving her battered with several broken ribs.
The victim, who does not wish to be identified, was treated for her injuries at Perth Royal Infirmary.
Her daughter-in-law condemned those responsible, which she believes included around seven boys and two girls.
“She was followed by a group of teenagers to the bus stop,” she said.
“They demanded money off her and she said they wouldn’t get it. Her trolley fell over and as she bent down to get it, they started laying into her.
“She was lucky that she was able to fight them off if it was an older, frailer person then they wouldn’t have been able to they could have ended up killed.”
She said that they had reported the incident to the police to stop further people falling victim to the gang.
“I am very, very angry and disgusted that teenagers would do that. It’s vile behaviour and their parents must be so proud of them. Someone will know who they are.
“It was a vicious, vicious attack. She has facial bruising and broken ribs. I reported it because I didn’t want it to happen to anyone else. Teens like that don’t deserve to be walking round free if they get away with it they will do it again. I just hope they are caught.”
The daughter-in-law also condemned people who stood by and did not rush to the victim’s aid.
“It was broad daylight that’s what’s most shocking,” she said. “There were people standing at the bus stop opposite that didn’t try to help. She shouted to a man at the Suzuki garage to call the police and he said ‘what for?’. People saw what happened.”
She added that the attack was unlikely to stop her mother-in-law from going about her business in future.
She said: “She’s made of strong stuff so I don’t think she’s scared of going back out but time will tell. She’ll not let them beat her.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said inquiries into the incident are continuing and anyone with any information should call 101.