A MUM of two who suffers with severe arthritis, seizures and panic attacks fought off an attacker with her crutches during an attempted robbery in a dark lane in Magor.

Rebecca Davies, 29, of Somerset Grove, Magor, was punched twice in the face in the attempted robbery last week.

At around 9.15pm on Sunday, September, Miss Davies, who has severe arthritis and suffers from seizures and panic attacks, was walking to the shop via a lane opposite her house, alongside Kensington Park, Magor.

She heard a noise, but didn’t take any notice of it, assuming it was an animal.

“Next thing I know I have a big dark shadow over me,” she said. “This man had jumped out of the hedge and was grabbing me from the shoulder. He was saying to give him my bag.

“He was trying to take the bag from me and the only thing I could attack him was my crutch, but he wasn’t giving up so I decided to scream.

“As soon as I screamed, he punched me on the right side of my cheek and I stumbled. He punched me again on my lip, ripping it apart.”

Miss Davies said she was fighting the attacker off for a couple minutes and that, before running away, he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her to the floor.

He failed to steal anything from Miss Davies, who was found by her daughter’s father and his partner.

“When they picked me up, I had a panic attack,” she said. “I was completely distressed.

“It has been an awful experience for me, I’ve had nightmares since then.”

A couple of days after the attempted robbery, Miss Davies collapsed twice and was taken to hospital, where she was diagnosed with delayed brain contusion from the punches to her face.

“That lane has been a shortcut for me for four years and now I’d never ever use it again,” she said. “I’ve come across drunk teenagers and more on the lane, but I’ve never had any problems.

“It was very surprising. I’m concerned about my safety and those of others – next time, it could be an old lady.”

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: ‘Following an attempted robbery in Kensington Park, Magor, Gwent Police would like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident.

“The offence happened at approximately 9.30pm on Sunday, September 18 and the offender is being described as male around 6ft in height, aged in his 20s, wearing a dark coloured top and cap with light coloured trousers.”

Local Inspector Phillip Morris said: “We would like reassure the community in Magor that this was an extremely unusual and isolated incident for the area and we haven’t received reports of similar incidents.

“At the moment our enquiries are on-going but if you do have any information I would strongly urge you to come forward.

“Uniformed officers will be patrolling the area during the evenings, to provide reassurance to the local community and to answer any questions or concerns people may have.

“The location where this incident occurred had no street lighting, it was extremely dark and I would advise that the community use routes that are well lit during the autumn and winter months.

“If anyone is concerned regarding any suspicious activity, please call on 101 or dial 999 in an emergency.”

If you have any information regarding this incident please call 101 quoting log 654 18/09/2016