A have-a-go hero mum has told of how she fought back when she was attacked by a mugger on a bike.

Shoppers witnessed the assault in broad daylight outside Dunelm Mill at Sittingbourne Retail Park.

The 38-year-old woman, who has strong Sheppey links but asked not to be named, was thrown to the ground and into the side of a parked car.

She was later treated for multiple cuts and bruises, a damaged shoulder and a broken foot.

She said: “A man on a mountain bike came at me from behind and grabbed my keys and snatched my purse from out of my hand.

“I pulled him off his bike by his hood and pinned him to the ground. He was fighting back but I managed to punch him in the head a few times during the scuffle.

“I was covered in bruises but I didn’t want to let him go.

“I wasn’t going to let a scumbag like that get away with my purse. He picked on the wrong person.

“He ended up sobbing and whimpering and telling me to stop hitting him. He was a big sissy. But when I called for the police he turned nasty, stood up and threw me against a parked car before running off.

“Luckily a couple near Currys heard the commotion and stopped him.

“A security guard kept him on the ground until police arrived. I’d like to thank everyone who helped and asked how I was.

“The police were excellent. There were three police cars and two detectives at the scene almost immediately.”

The attack happened at lunchtime. The woman had been trying to pay £200 into Santander Bank on the High Street but the branch was closed for refurbishment.

“I wasn’t going to let a scumbag like that get away with my purse. He picked on the wrong person" - brave woman

She said: “As I was in Sittingbourne I decided to call into Pets At Home to buy dog food. I spotted the man as I went in.

“Some people have said I shouldn’t have fought back but there was no way he was going to take my money.

“I’m pleased my seven-year-old son was not with me. That would have been even more traumatic.”

She added: “I’m glad he attacked me and not someone more vulnerable.

“He looked like a junky. He had grey hair, hadn’t shaved and seemed to have the tremors.

“It all happened so quickly but I don’t think he was expecting my reaction.

“It was only when I got home that the shock set in and I realised he could have had a knife.

“It makes me so angry. How dare he do something like this and so brazenly in broad daylight?”

It was at home she realised her foot hurt. On Sunday doctors revealed she had broken it in the struggle.

A 46-year-old man from Sittingbourne appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with robbery. He was remanded in custody.