Woman punched in face in Poole in attempted handbag theft

A woman was punched in the face in Poole when a man tried to steal her handbag.

A 22-year-old woman from Bournemouth was assaulted as she was walking home along Cromer Road at around 2:30pm on Wednesday February 20.

A man appraoched the victitm from behind and tried to grab her handbag. He then punched her in the face and ran off empty handed.

Police Constable Luke Davies of Poole Police said: "This unprovoked attack has left a young woman very shaken and I am appealing for witnesses to assist with our investigation.

"Before the incident took place, the victim alighted from the number 16 bus that she had taken from Arne Avenue in Poole at 1:25pm."

The victim arrived in Cromer Road at around 1:50pm, and felt a tug on the straps of her handbag - which was over her shoulder.

"After a tug of war between the two, the offender began to swing punches, one of which caught the victim in the face" added PC Davies.

"The offender, who is described as a white man, aged in his late thirties with a tanned complexion and bushy eyebrows, then ran off in the direction of Poole Road.

"He was wearing a black puffer jacket, dark jeans and black trainers."

Witnesses or anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 20:271.