Grandmother dies after sex assault

The pensioner, in her 70s, who lived alone, was molested by an intruder who is believed to have walked in through an unlocked door and then left after carrying out the attack on July 3 in the Ryhill area of Wakefield.

After he left she alerted her neighbour who called the police.

The victim then began to suffer breathing difficulties and was taken to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield where she has now died.

At the time of the attack Det Supt David Oldroyd, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: "This was a sickening attack on a defenceless, elderly lady."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said on Saturday: "The victim died yesterday in Pinderfields hospital and a post-mortem has taken place.

"The results of the post-mortem are not currently available as they form part of the investigation.

"Enquiries are currently ongoing and officers are still looking to trace a group of young people - said to be aged between about 10 and 17 - who had been in the Ryhill and Havercroft areas in the days leading up to the incident.

"Local people have told police the group had been knocking on doors saying they were conducting a survey.

"Police also have a suspect description of a white man, around 5ft 3ins to 5ft 6ins tall, with dark, nicely cut hair. He was said to be thin and wearing dark tracksuit bottoms and a light coloured top."