Robbery victim 'a different person' after knifepoint raid terror
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.
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Balwinder Dhami with her son Harnack Dhami
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.
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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.
4 Comments
by smshogun
Sunday, February 24 2013, 3:16PM
“Its intriguing to see she wants to raise awareness among Asian families and has written to a Leicester MP.
Surely we need to be protecting all members of society and not specific groups, and the local MP should be the first port of call.”
by victormildew5
Saturday, February 23 2013, 3:55PM
“when we are having pensioners punched unconscious in their own home it tells me we are a very ill society. The rope is too good for the cretins who did this.”
by Vox_Populii
Saturday, February 23 2013, 9:59AM
“The problem is Lesta, people shouldn't have to lock themselves up behind bars to feel safe at home; the key should be on catching the cretins who carried out this attack and making an example of them. Aggravated burglary carries a minimum sentence of two years max ten; bear in mind that most will probably get something between 2-4 years, being let out halfway through for 'good behviour' - without any kind of rehabilitation they wear it as a badge of honour. I remember hearing a youth on the bus bragging to his mates about his time inside a few years back and they were all backslaps and cheers.
Something is fundamentally wrong with the mindset of portions of society, and I don't think it's helped by music and media that targets kids from a young ages and glorifies crime, misogyny and irresponsible behaviour.”
by LestaLM
Saturday, February 23 2013, 8:54AM
“How much more advice do people need on how to protect themselves and their home ? It's rather obvious, isn't it ?”