Warning: This article contains distressing imagery 

The son of a woman whose arm was broken by a pellet in Chessington has said her injuries “could have been far worse”.

The 74-year-old woman was taken to hospital with her injuries after police were called to reports of a suspected shooting outside the North Star pub in Hook Road at around 7.40pm on Saturday, February 10.

Your Local Guardian: The injury

The victim remains in hospital after surgery on her arm. She has contracted the flu and a chest infection since being admitted and had to have a plate put into her arm. 

Her son provided the photo in the hope it would “peak someone’s conscience to do the right thing”. 

He said: “Mum was only a few hundred yards from her house - not only has she got this horrific injury, she now wonders how she can ever walk down that road again.

“Perhaps she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, perhaps she was not the intended target.

“Luckily Mum was holding her scarf up to her face to shield it from the wind, as such her arm stopped the ball bearing from hitting her chest or throat, where her injuries could have been far worse.

“If anyone knows who did this please contact the police so they can stop them from hurting anyone else.”

Police believe the pellet may have been shot from a catapult or similar device.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has information about an individual using such a weapon in the Chessington area, should call Kingston CID via 101 quoting CAD 6572/10Feb. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.