The ailing husband of a pensioner who was stabbed repeatedly in a frenzied street attack said today that his wife had not liked leaving the house alone, after he was mugged four times.

Cornelius Driscoll, 85, said his wife, Ann, 82, had had to make the trip to the shops during which she was attacked because he had been unable to walk for the past four weeks because of a leg problem.

Mrs Driscoll was stabbed nine times in the neck and stomach as she walked home from the shopping trip in Harlesden, northwest London, on Monday.

Covered in blood, she tried to stagger home to her husband to make sure he was all right. A member of the public helped her and called an ambulance.

She was recovering in hospital yesterday and has been able to talk to detectives about what happened.

She told her husband that she nearly died. Mr Driscoll said: “I don’t know what the world is coming to. I wish it had been me out there instead of Ann — I normally did the shopping for us before my illness.

“Ann was always very nervous about going out. I was mugged four times and she was scared to go out on her own. I wish I had been with her.

“I always told her to be careful as I would be totally lost without her. I always told her if someone attacked her not to put up a fight, and hand over what she had.

“I am heartbroken. Ann is such a wonderful person. Whoever did this must have no feelings at all. They are a monster. She is just a defenceless woman and I think she is lucky to be alive.”

Mr Driscoll, a retired scaffolder, said he had not been able to go to the hospital to see her but had spoken to her on the phone.

He said: “I asked her how she was and she said she nearly died. But she seemed not too bad. She is very brave.

“I was so pleased to hear her voice and I just wish that she would walk through the door and come home. I would be at the hospital every night if I could.”

He added: “I still haven’t got over the shock of finding out what happened to her.

“I just gave her £20 for some groceries and she went out and I was at home waiting for her to come back. I thought she should have been back and then suddenly two policemen arrived and told me what happened.”

Police are hunting a white man, aged between 30 and 45, with brown hair, who was wearing brown clothing.

They have appealed for anyone who saw Mrs Driscoll in Harlesden High Street or Burns Road, where the attack took place, to contact them.

Anyone with information should contact police on 020 8733 3709 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Times Recommends

• How I lost the gift of joy for a while
• Why Ann Widdecombe has got it wrong
• Alas, it’s the end of the road for petrolheads