MP’s wife attacked by robbers outside Huddersfield home

Elaine Whittaker, wife of Conservative Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker, suffered cuts and bruises and a suspected broken toe when a man in a balaclava attacked her in Fixby, Huddersfield.

The thief made off with her engagement ring and car, a white Audi Q3.

Mrs Whittaker, 58, was knocked to the floor as the thief grabbed her handbag.

The assault happened on Tuesday at 9.35pm.

Mr Whittaker, who was in London at the time, described the attack as “horrendous” and said his wife was very shaken up.

Although she suffered cuts and bruises to her face and hand, Mr Whittaker said that the physical injuries were not too serious.

“Physically she is okay but emotionally she is just a wreck.”

A police spokesman said: “The attacker confronted the female whilst wearing a balaclava and demanded her engagement ring.

“She removed the ring, held it out and the attacker snatched it from her hand. The stolen ring is a 3 carat white diamond ring on white gold and is of high value.

“He grabbed her handbag which was around her arm and pulled at it with such force that the victim fell to the floor.

“The attacker demanded her car keys and kicked the victim several times to the face before grabbing the keys from the floor.

“He then got into the victim’s white Audi Q3 motor vehicle and drove away in the car, still in possession of the ring.”

The attacker described as Asian, around 5ft 10 and stocky. He is possibly 30 to 40 years old. He wore a black jacket which appeared to have grey material around the bottom.

The balaclava was black and had small eye and mouth holes.