Woman robbed while walking home

A 22-year-old woman was robbed and attacked while walking home late at night in Surrey.

She was walking from Surbiton railway station on Sunday when she realised she was being followed, and turned to see a man behind her.

The man pushed her into a driveway with no lights or vehicles and punched her several times in the face.

He told her to empty her bag and hand over cash. He then took her mobile phone and purse and ran away.

This was obviously a very frightening and upsetting experience for the victim. She has been cynically targeted in a calculated attack Det Con Davinia Fielding

After the attack, the victim ran home and called police. Officers carried out a search with support from the force helicopter, but could not find the man.

Det Con Davinia Fielding said: "This was obviously a very frightening and upsetting experience for the victim.

"She has been cynically targeted in a calculated attack by a suspect who was prepared to assault and threaten her to get what he wanted."

The attack took place in Effingham Road between 2303 and 2310 BST. The woman suffered bruising to her right cheek and bruising and swelling to both arms.

The suspect was described as about 6ft, slim, wearing a black winter coat with the hood up. He also had a black scarf covering the lower half of his face, and wore black gloves, trousers and trainers.

Det Con Fielding said police wanted to speak to a blonde woman in her early 20s seen in the same road several minutes after the robbery who could be a witness.