A WOMAN says she is terrified to go out on her own after her bag was snatched from her shoulder by a mugger with such force that he broke her arm.

Norma Bates, 82, who lives in Gillingham, also suffered severe bruising. She has been in so much pain that she has not been able to get to sleep since the incident.

Mrs Bates said: “I was walking through the alleyway near Sturdee Avenue and Acorn Road, when I saw a man dressed in black clothing running towards me.

“Everything happened so fast. Before I knew it, he had snatched my shopping bag from my shoulder with such force I just fell to the ground really heavily. Instantly, I knew I had been hurt.”

A man working on his car nearby saw what happened and chased the robber, who dropped the bag before getting into a getaway car.

Mrs Bates added: “I’m extremely grateful to the man who got my bag back. He is a hero. I would encourage anyone who knows anything about this robbery to come forward and tell the police, before the robber has a chance to do the same thing to someone else.

“As a result of the robbery, I have lost my independence and wouldn’t want to see anyone else go through what I have been through.”

A spokesman for Medway Police said: “The robbery and assault happened between 5.30 and 5.50pm on Thursday, May 12. The victim was walking home from the shops when the man grabbed her bag, causing her to fall to the floor, which resulted in a broken arm.

“The offender was chased by a member of the public back into Sturdee Avenue and along towards Harold Avenue, where the man drove away in a dark coloured Peugeot 206.”

*The offender is aged between 20 and 30

* about 5ft 6in tall

* Medium build

* Dark hair

* He was dressed in dark clothing, dark trousers and a black three-quarter length coat.