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Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 16:08 GMT 17:08 UK

Mother 'shaken' after baby snatch

Victoria, Robert and Jazmine Sawyer A mother has been left shaken and scared after fighting off a couple who tried to steal her baby from her pram.

Victoria Sawyer, 30, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, was on Hulme Road when the man and woman tried to snatch her daughter Jazmine, police said.

Officers are looking for the couple, who both wore black gloves and spoke to each other in a foreign language.

"I was completely numb. It was the most horrific thing that has ever happened to me," Mrs Sawyer said.

The care assistant was walking home from her second job as a cleaner when the attack happened at about 2000 BST on Sunday.

"I was frightened of what they were going to do"
Victoria Sawyer

"As I got to Hulme road they were either side of me," she said.

"The lady was on my left grabbing the pram and the man was leaning into the pram trying to drag my little daughter out."

She added: "The man had his foot in front of the wheels of the pram stopping me pushing it. He pulled at her two or three times but luckily she was strapped in and there were blankets on top of her."

The man said something to the woman in a foreign language before running off. The woman then tried to take four-month-old Jazmine but Mrs Sawyer hit her in the face and she ran off towards the park on Hulme Road.

"I just want them caught. There are a lot of young mums in this area"
Robert Sawyer

"I didn't mean to hit her, I am not that sort of person but I was frightened of what they were going to do," she said.

Mrs Sawyer's husband, Robert, said his wife had been extremely brave.

"I just want them caught. There are a lot of young mums in this area," he said.

Police have released a detailed description of the pair who were earlier seen arguing in Atherleigh Way, near to Sainsbury's supermarket in Leigh.

Witnesses sought

Both are described as white. The man was 5ft 7in, in his 40s with a muscular build and very short black hair.

He was wearing black trainers, black jeans and a black leather jacket which was fastened up to cover most of his face.

The woman was about 5ft 6in, in her 40s with a slim build, black hair scraped back into a bun and green eyes.

She was wearing black trainers, dark green combat trousers and a black canvas jacket with an elasticated waistband.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact police.



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Related to this story:
Mother fights off baby snatchers (13 Aug 07 |  Manchester )

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