Picture courtesy of Ian Britton

This post was updated at 1:30pm on March 3, 2015. Northumbria Police have told JesmondLocal they have arrested a 28-year-old man in relation to this incident, who has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Additional uniformed officers are policing the streets around Jesmond following the mugging of a 22-year-old woman on Coniston Avenue.

The incident occurred as the victim was walking to work at approximately 6:55am on Monday February 9th. Police are appealing for any witnesses, or people in the area at the time who may have heard or seen anything suspicious.

The victim, whose identity JesmondLocal has chosen not to disclose at her request, explained exclusively to JesmondLocal that she left the house to go to work at 6:45am. A graduate, later that day she was returning to her home town in Yorkshire and so had all of her luggage with her. She said she was walking past Tesco on Acorn Road when a man got out of his car. She described that he had his hood down and began to follow her.

“I didn’t think anything of it,” she said. “I didn’t think it was personal.” When the perpetrator stopped following her and turned back towards his car she assumed “he must have forgotten something.”

However, the assailant actually got back into his car and drove off in order to obstruct her when she reached the end of the road, she believes. The man proceeded to get out of the car and grab her so violently as to draw blood. The victim told JesmondLocal that she thought: “God, my life is over”.

After this, she explains, “everything became a blur”. She screamed, and a male pedestrian came to her aid. The assailant turned to flee and in doing so grabbed the bag from the victim’s arm, causing her to fall to the ground. The assailant got back in the car he was driving and drove off towards Osborne Road with the stolen bag.

Following the attack, the victim told JesmondLocal “I’m lucky I’m here, I don’t know what his intentions were”.

The offender is described as being a white man, 5’7″ tall, with a pale complexion, skinny build, aged 25 to 35-years-old. He was wearing a black woollen hat and dark clothing.

The victim says she is still “shook up”, noting that she “has nothing left”. Her handbag contained a white coloured Apple iPad Mini, cash, rail tickets and other personal items.

She told JesmondLocal that “I can’t get over that people are like that. I just want people to be aware of what happened. Jesmond is never normally like that but now I’m going to have to get taxis to work as I don’t ever want to go out alone again. It shouldn’t have to be like that.

“I’m scared about taking that route again,” she said.

Neighbourhood Inspector Neil Brotherton said, “We know that these sorts of unusual incidents do cause concern for residents and we have additional uniform officers on patrol in the area to answer any questions people may have.” Theft from the person is relatively rare in the Jesmond and Heaton area with 10 cases reported since May 2013 and none between September and December 2014.

The victim is thankful of all the support she has received from family, friends and the local community. She was very appreciative that she could have the opportunity to warn people of this incident and raise awareness.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, extension 69191, quoting log number 137 of 09/02/15 or ring the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.