A £5,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who beat an 82-year-old woman on her doorstep and strangled her with a dog lead in a brutal assault.

Catherine Smith suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital in west London after she was attacked and robbed by a woman on July 27.

The reward has been put up by the independent Crimestoppers charity .

Ms Smith was returning home in Stretham Hill on her mobility scooter after walking her dog when the attacker pounced at around 1pm.

Catherine Smith was attacked on her doorstep in Lambeth

She had first spotted her assailant while walking the dog in Palace Road Nature Gardens, and when Ms Smith returned to her home in Lydhurst Avenue the woman was sitting on a wall outside her property.

The attacker approached her and asked “where’s Tracey?” before repeatedly asking for money, the police said.

The victim said she did not know a Tracey, and the suspect then if she could use her toilet.

She was refused but as Ms Smith tried to close the door to her home, the suspect forced the door open causing the victim to fall backwards and hit her head.

There was then a struggle, which saw the victim punched numerous times and then strangled with the dog lead, before the attacker made off in an unknown direction.

Ms Smith called for help and witnesses who rushed to her aid called police after seeing her covered in blood.

She was taken to hospital with serious injuries but has now been discharged.

The suspect is described as a black female, about 5ft 5ins, of slim build, with slick-backed black hair.

She was wearing a khaki coloured coat with a zip, multi-coloured trainers and tights.

DC Vicky Vincent, the investigating officer from Lambeth CID , said: “This was a vicious unprovoked attack on an elderly vulnerable woman.

"The attack has left her very distressed.

Catherine Smith was taken to a west London hospital

“We believe the suspect spotted Catherine in Palace Road Nature Gardens and for unknown reasons decided to follow her home, harass her and then brutally assault her.

“We are still appealing for anyone with information or any witnesses to contact us as a matter of urgency so we can bring the person responsible for this heinous crime to justice.”

To give information and qualify for the reward, which is valid for three months, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.

People must provide information to Crimestoppers rather than police to qualify for the reward.

Anyone with information can alternatively give details to Lambeth CID on 07785774447, 101 or Tweet @MetCC.

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