Student hero beaten after halting Plymouth robbery bid
ROBBERS viciously attacked a student who bravely went to the aid of a young woman they were attempting to mug.
Police have launched a hunt for the two men and one woman who carried out the failed robbery in the early hours of Sunday.
-
Police said the 20-year-old female victim had been left very shaken up by the incident while the university student who went to her rescue suffered severe bruising and swelling around his face, including a black eye.
The young woman was on her way home from work, walking along Beaumont Road in St Judes, at around 3.30am on Sunday when she was approached by the suspects. The two men shoved her up against a wall, close to the roundabout junction of Beaumont Road and Greenbank Avenue, and began to rifle through her handbag, grabbing at her phone.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
She began to scream "get off me" and "please help", alerting a 21-year-old university student who happened to be nearby. He raced over to the scene and began to force them off her, but was instantly attacked by the thugs.
Despite being hit around the head several times, he gave chase as they fled the area. At one stage, as they ran along Knighton Road, they turned on him again, striking him several times around the head, but he continued his pursuit as far as Tothill Park where they made good their escape.
He returned to the young woman and waited with her as police were called.
The female suspect was described as short and in her early 20s while the two men were both white, slim, in their mid-20s to mid-30s. One had short dark hair while the other had short fair hair.
Lead investigator Det Con Nick Bloom said he was very keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the area and had seen either the initial attempted robbery, or the attacks on the student.
He said: "The young woman was very shaken up by the experience and when I spoke to her she was still a bag of nerves. She had been working late and was on her way home when she was grabbed. While the woman in the group did not take part in the attempted robbery or the violent assault, she stood nearby and knows the offenders.
"Without the assistance of the young man who showed incredible bravery, not only in stopping the robbery, but also giving chase for as long as he could, despite being physically assaulted, it is very likely they would have escaped with her handbag and contents.
"It's clear by the actions of the suspects that they have absolutely no hesitation in resorting to violence and we need the public's help in getting these people off the streets as soon as possible."
If you can assist police, contact them on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting crime reference number EC/12/10939.
Comments
by intherealot
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 12:15PM
“Grow up Nevman. It doesn't matter wether she was a student or not. It's just not safe for females to walk around on their own at that time of the night in the city centre. I hope she is ok and hats off to the guy who intervened.”
by toonoon
Friday, November 16 2012, 9:45AM
“I hope the young hero will be honoured in some way for his brave actions. It took some guts to do what he did and he deserves the gratitude of the community in standing up to the scum who will pick on girls.”
by trex1_
Friday, November 16 2012, 9:00AM
“The mans actions were very brave, well done, how many others would have just driven by or ignored her screams. How brave of the 2 muggers to pick on the young lady, they must be so proud of themselves for having such courage. I hope the woman who was there with them has the guts to come forward and shame them, it could have been her in that position.
Trouble is, when and if they get caught they'll end up with some paltry sentence from a magistrate who gets taken in by the usual stories, broken home, thrown out of school at 12 because of behaviour problems, has just enrolled on a course to become a brain surgeon, has just turned his life around after being addicted to drink or drugs or years yawn yawn yawn!!!
Anyway, rant over and well done again young man”
by Banditburner
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 12:38AM
“A brave bloke and a sustained effort; well done that Man!”
by Nevman
Wednesday, November 14 2012, 12:17AM
“I see the usual student-haters couldn't resist finding some way to **** off students even in this case. Shame on them!”
by paulmh66
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 3:47PM
“I think the employers should make sure their staff are safely delivered home at that time of the morning. They should lay on some kind of transport, and I personally would not begrudge a penny or five on a pint to cover the costs.”
by Katiegee91
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 3:28PM
“Im 20 years old, not a student, and i work in a club on the weekends. Although its a second job i still begrudge paying for a taxi home as the cost is outrageous. Especially when youre not sharing the fare with others. Although taxi firms are cheaper than black cabs it not always easy to get them, for instance when you ring them when you finish your shift anytime between half 1 in the morning and 3 on a busy saturday/sunday, most of the time youre told its going to be atleast a half hour wait...by this time i could be almost home if i had just walked. ive paid up to 10 pounds just to get home when ive not made huge amounts more than that during my shift.
Ive been lucky enough to walk home on several occasions and not have any trouble however it is something im always scared of happening. I completely agree with your comment glasshalffull that companies should take responsibility for the welfare and safety of their employees ...even if it meant refusing work to those who cant drive personally, like myself.
That being said i hope the girl involved is okay and that the horrible people who did this get caught. Well done to the student who didnt stand back let this happen, a real hero x”
by j4nner
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 2:08PM
“Well done lad.”
by BettyD
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 1:55PM
“Well dong young man!!!!!”
by josdave
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 1:30PM
“Well done that lad and I hope that if they are caught these scum don't get a slap on the wrist but get to spend some serious time inside. Watch out for a sob story from the defence to be believed by the magistrate.”