Liverpool nun Sr Louise Gilbey run over by car thief wants him 'to find a different way of life'

A nun who was dragged under her own car door during a terrifying robbery has said she doesn't wish her attacker any harm.

CCTV shows the shocking incident, which began after the elderly woman parked her blue Hyundai outside Booker Avenue Post Office on Holmefield Road, Allerton, Liverpool at 10.05am on Monday 11th March.

She can be seen briefly leaving the car and crossing the pavement to post a letter.

Sr. Louise Gilbey said she wasn't concerned for her own safety, but wanted to retrieve the car back from the thief.

She describes her car as a "lifeline" for her work with the ministry and she uses the vehicle mainly to visit elderly housebound parishioners.

Sister Louise had worked as an NHS nurse and midwife for many years in Liverpool, moving on to a nurse-manager at Marymount Nursing Home on North Mossley Hill Road.

She visits the elderly parishioners, and brings them Holy Communion each week, as a comfort to those who can no longer attend mass.

Sr. Louise, originally from Ireland, said: "I have lived in Liverpool for so long, I've been a midwife in Fazakerley as well as being a nurse in other establishments. People say that crime can be bad in the city, but I have seen the other side of it, and I have always thought about how kind the people in this city are.

"I blame myself for this, forgetting for a brief moment that I had left the keys in the car. This car is my lifeline, I wasn't thinking, I was just desperate to save it."

She added: "I don't wish him any harm. I just hope he doesn't use the car to hurt anyone. It could have been a lot worse for me. I would love him to find a different way of life, he can't be happy having to do stuff like that.

"There are so many programmes that could help this man to live a decent life. No mother wants their child to be like that, you want them to be good, you aren't brought into the world to act in such a way, it would be wonderful to find him the help he needs to live a better life."

The moment captured on CCTV shows Louise rushing back to the Hyundai, she opens the car door and reaches in to tackle the thief.

At this point the car reverses, dragging her along the gutter and under the driver's door.

After hitting the car parked behind it, the Hyundai drives away, narrowly avoiding Sr. Louise, who is now lying at the side of the road.

She said: "I genuinely believe God helped and save me, I knew I was going under the car - how nothing more serious happened to me I don’t know."

After the incident took place, the staff inside the Booker Avenue Post Office helped Louise inside, offered her a cup of tea and waited for the police to arrive.

Louise said: "The people in the Post Office who helped me - I cannot thank them enough. The police woman brought me home, which was very kind of them, they are still looking for it [the car], but he did get away very quickly.

"I loved visiting the people, I am a people person, especially those who are housebound. I just remember when I was looking after my elderly mother, visitors always made you feel better."

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the shocking incident to come forward.

Inspector Paul Rannard said: "The theft of any vehicle is a despicable offence which has the potential to leave the rightful owner without means of getting to work, to shop and to enjoy their day to day lives.

"It was only by sheer good fortune the victim was not injured during this incident and we're aware of video footage circulating online. I know that the vast majority of people in our community will be appalled when watching this and I urge them to help us trace the person responsible so that we can bring them to justice.

"Anybody who was in the Booker Avenue area yesterday morning who witnessed anything or who has any information then please let us know. Similarly if you were driving in the area and have dashcam footage, please review it and let us know if you see a blue Hyundai being or anything or anyone suspicious. All information you hold could be vital to our enquiries.

"Finally I would urge everyone to be vigilant and lock your vehicle when parked so it can't be taken by opportunistic thieves. You can find more information and advice around stopping vehicle theft on our website."

• Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook with reference 22000247479.