VIDEO: Car jacker nearly runs down Rothwell grandmother in her own car

The 65-year-old had got out of her Nissan Micra open after dropping off her daughter and baby granddaughter outside Leeds railway station.

Spotting his opportunity, the thief got in and drove off with the doors open as the two women tried to stop him.

He smashed into several other cars before abandoning the stolen vehicle in Armley.

Detective Constable Penny Halliwell, of British Transport Police, said: “This absolutely shocking incident risked the lives of three members of the same family, it’s vital that we trace this man and bring him to justice.”

The incident happened at about 6.35pm on Tuesday, April 15 at the drop-off point adjacent to Wetherspoon’s pub at the rear of the station.

Det Con Halliwell said: “Both the victim and her daughter got out of the car and were assembling the pram they had taken out of the boot. At this point the man we would like to trace approached and hung around nearby.

“After the baby was lifted out of the car and into the pram the man ran around to the drivers’ side of the car, jumped into the car and then drove off at speed in an erratic and dangerous manner.

“The victim and her daughter rushed and attempted to open both the passenger and drivers door in a bid to stop him but he carried on with total disregard for their safety. They were extremely lucky that they weren’t knocked over.”

The car was discovered damaged and abandoned in Armley.

Police said additional enquiries revealed it had crashed into four other vehicles including a taxi.

Det Con Halliwell urged anyone who knows the man to get in touch: “If you recognise him, we would like to hear from you. Your information could be vital to the investigation.”

Call 0800 405040 or text on 61016, quoting reference number PSUB/B4 of April 23, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.