Brave woman fights off robber (From Ledbury Reporter)

Brave woman fights off robber

3:38pm Monday 15th October 2012 in Ledbury By Tarik Al Rasheed

A BRAVE young woman fought back after being grabbed by her hair and pushed up against a wall during a violent robbery attempt in Malvern.

The woman, in her 20s, was walking through Great Malvern away from the town centre along Worcester Road at about 1am on Friday when she became aware of a man following her.

She tried to run away but he pursued and so she ran out into the road and tried to hail down a car.

A passing silver or light-coloured Citroen swerved to avoid her but then drove on.

The man then caught up with her, grabbed her by her hair, pushed her against the wall and took her handbag, removing her bank cards. But she bravely fought back, snatching back her cards and punching her attacker in the head before running away.

A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and bailed, and police now want to speak to anyone who may have witnessed what happened, in particular the couple driving the Citroen.

DC Will Brimmell, of Malvern CID, said: "Thankfully the victim escaped without serious injury or without anything being stolen; nonetheless it was a very traumatic experience for her.

“I would particularly like to speak to the occupants of the car the woman tried to flag down - I can understand why they did not stop at the time, but it is important they come forward now and tell us what they saw.”

Anyone with information can call Malvern CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 171S 12/10/12.