More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A 19-year-old girl says she's scared to leave her home after being robbed at knifepoint of her purse.
Joleen Bradshaw spent the day in Leysdown, Sheppey, on WednesdayJune2 with her brother Billy and his girlfriend Millie.
The teenager had won £500 in the amusement arcades earlier in the day, before heading to the Rose and Crown pub for a drink on Wednesday.
Afterwards, she and Millie went back to the arcade, where Joleen won another £600.
The girls then decided to go to the Premier shop in Leysdown Road to grab a drink before thinking about heading home.
However when Joleen came out of the shop, with her purse in her hand, she was approached by a man who told her to hand it over.
Joleen, who is autistic and has ADHD, said she thought the man was "mucking around" at first, but he demanded she hand over her purse again and she noticed he was holding a knife.
After a short grapple, which left Joleen with some cuts and bruises, the man snatched her purse and ran off.
It contained the £1,100 cash that Joleen had just won, as well as her bank cards, citizenship card and driver's licence.
Two by-standers ran after the robber but, when they managed to catch up with him, he pulled a knife out on them.
The robber has been described as being slim, about 5ft 6in, with brown hair and possibly aged between 20 and 26 years old. He was said to be wearing brown shorts and a T-shirt over his shoulders.
Joleen said: "I was terrified, but I had a lot to lose. That was everything to me in that purse because I'm a student. I've got nothing now."
"Joleen was very lucky but the next person might not be..."
She added: "I feel like I've been violated. That I've got to look around me all of the time. I'm scared to go out.
"I personally think I had been watched from that pub into the arcade. My conversations must have been listened to, 100%."
Joleen's mother, Jenny, said the ordeal had been horrific for her daughter.
"She hasn't had a wink of sleep since it happened. It has really, really knocked her.
"This man needs to be caught. Joleen was very lucky but the next person might not be."
Police are investigating.
A spokesman said: "Kent Police is investigating a report that a woman was robbed, by a man, of her purse in Leysdown Road, Leysdown, at around 3.25pm on Wednesday, June 2.
"The victim is reported to have been threatened with a knife by the suspect.
"Officers attended the scene and spoke with a number of witnesses, in addition to reviewing CCTV.
"At present no arrests have been made and inquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing."
Anyone with information should call police on 01795 419119, quoting 46/94396/21 or Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or using an online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.
To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here
