A TV appeal has been launched to find the man who robbed a Crossford pensioner at knifepoint and left her tied up and blindfolded in her home.

Further details of the horrifying incident last May have now been made public in an attempt to catch the assailant, who left his 76-year-old victim traumatised.

The late night attack saw her phone line cut to stop her calling for help and she was left cable-tied to a chair and blindfolded after the man made off.

She was only found because of the actions of an alert neighbour who noticed that her lights were still on and went to investigate.

The victim’s son said the robber “almost killed my mother” and the family were “praying” someone would come forward with information.

Police from Dunfermline made a fresh appeal for information live on the BBC’s Crimewatch Roadshow programme on Wednesday and there is a £5,000 reward for information about the robbery.

They have previously released CCTV of a man they want to speak to in relation to the “horrific” incident that took place on May 4 at around 11.20pm on Lundin Road.

Detective Inspector Kelly McEwan said: “I am confident that somebody, somewhere will know this man. This is one of the most shocking cases that I have seen in 20 years in the police service.”

The elderly woman was in her garden having just attended to her dogs when she was grabbed by a man, who she believes was carrying a knife and was possibly speaking with an eastern European accent.

He bound her wrists together with cable ties and applied a makeshift blindfold, and then forced her back into her house where he also tied her to a chair.

“As you can imagine it was absolutely horrific and terrifying for the lady,” DI McEwan explained. “The man cut the telephone line, preventing the victim from being able to summon any help.

"He stole a quantity of jewellery and bank cards, and then fled leaving the victim helpless, still tied up and blindfolded.”

She said this could have had “catastrophic consequences” if the neighbour hadn’t been awake and gone to check if there was anything wrong.

They have clear images of a man they want to speak to, he was seen in a supermarket in Dunfermline at about 12.10pm on the afternoon of the robbery and three days later on May 7 at a petrol station in Greenock driving a black Vauxhall Mokka.

They believe he may be in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

The victim’s son told the Press: “My mum is still not right, we are hoping someone will recognise the guy – it just takes one person.

“It’s really disheartening when you have a really good profile of the guy and nobody has come forward. This person almost killed my mother. We just want closure.”

He said the robbery was “clearly premeditated” because the man said he had been watching the house the night before. 

He added it was “obvious” the robber knew the area as instead of fleeing from West Fife, he got cash out of an ATM in Oakley the following morning. He said the man also had false plates on his car. 

The son added: “It’s gone on for so long now that I think it’s a matter of time before he does it again – he is obviously preying on vulnerable people. You never think that this would happen to your own family, I think my mum’s eyes have been opened up to what the world is like. 

“She has a panic alarm and texts to tell me and my sister that she’s safe all the time now. When I first got the phone call, I just couldn’t believe it.

"I was actually in Victoria Hospital because my partner had given birth to our twins that week. It was absolutely horrendous, my mum’s was a crime scene when I got there. 

“It was supposed to be a happy time for the family, but it was very traumatic. We just want answers.”

Crimestoppers have a £5,000 reward for information. You can call 0800 555 111 anonymously or go to https://crimestoppers-uk.org/