A TERRIFIED family have paid thanks to a kind couple from Gravesend who came to their rescue after being robbed in France.

Talented UK women’s motocross rider Vicky Parkin, 21, was on route to a World Series event with her mother Penny, brother Joe and uncle Steve, when they were attacked and robbed of their passports and money.

The group had parked up their converted Mercedes Sprinter van in a French motorway service station, 100 miles from Calais, at 1.30am to catch some sleep before the morning race.

But just an hour later they were subjected to a terrifying ordeal where they were viciously assaulted in full view of a police station.

Self employed builder Steve Parkin from Rainham, Essex said: “It was very frightening, I had just stated nodding off when three men came to the window saying they were the police and wanted me to open the van.

“Straight away I knew something was up and immediately locked all the doors, but then they took a hammer out and started smashing through the windows - I thought they were going to kill us.”

Two of the men crashed through the back window, wrestling 43-year-old Penny to the ground before punching her in the face.

The other smashed the passenger window, grabbing a travel bag that contained the family’s passports and money.

Within seconds the thieving trio made their escape in a gold coloured saloon car that was waiting for them.

Frantic Steve, 38, who was left with just two Euros in his pocket, then noticed two policemen who he claims were in full view of the incident.

He said: “I shouted to them to come and help, but they just looked me up and down and said there was nothing they could do.

“We had nothing us, just a quarter of a tank of diesel and all of Vicky’s race cards and licences were taken so we had no option but to go home - the whole trip was ruined.”

After gathering the family together he drove 20 miles to the next service station to find help.

There he found a good Samaritan couple from Gravesend, who filled his van up with diesel and gave him their last 20 Euros so they could get back to Calais and report the incident to immigration officials.

Mr Parkin said: “If it hadn’t been for that nice couple I don’t know what would have happened. I’ll definitely think twice about stopping over in France again.”

Are you the kind couple who helped out the Parkin family? Contact us by phoning 01474 564327, email gravesendonline@thekmgroup.co.uk or write to us at Gravesend Messenger 7 High Street, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0BQ.