Woman fights back at thugs

Lesley Jones, 54, was threatened with a knife during her ordeal which began around 11.30pm on 6th November.

Notts Police have since increased patrols around the unlit footpath between Carlton Road and Queensway and have appealed for a man who may have seen the attack to come forward.

Lesley was walking from Worksop Train Station, having finished work in Meadowhall, to her home in Sunny Bank when the attack happened.

She described how one male jumped out and asked her for her bag, which contained money, a pink HTC mobile phone and a Kindle.

She said: “I thought he was messing about. He grabbed my bag so I hit him twice. I was doing well at fending him off until another came out of nowhere and knocked me to the ground.”

“He pulled out a pen knife and threatened to kill me and my family if I didn’t tell him how much I had in my purse.”

The attackers pulled off Lesley’s coat, looking for her mobile phone and again threatened her if she didn’t stay on the ground, before running off.

After several minutes they returned but Lesley managed to get up and run back towards Carlton Road.

During her ordeal she bit one of the men so hard she lost the cap on her tooth.

Lesley said she often walked home from the station, but has recently had to resort to walking along the unlit footpath next to the railway line.

“I used to walk along the footpath which had streetlights, but Tesco have closed it to build there. I had walked that way all my life and never gave it a second thought. I had been worried recently about walking the other way.”

“Someone must know something.”

Police are keen to speak to a man, who was white, wearing dark trousers and walking towards the footpath when the attack happened.

Det Con Ricci Skelton, of Retford CID, said: “If you were the man walking in the area at the time of the attack please get in touch.”

“We have increased patrols in the area and would advise people to avoid walking alone in secluded, unlit areas at night. Be vigilant and report any suspicious incidents to the police.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Skelton at Retford CID on 101, extension 807 7477, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.