By Graham Huband

A HEAVILY-PREGNANT Dundee teenager yesterday told of her fears for her unborn baby after she was attacked by a petty thief in Kirkton.

Jo Urquhart (19), who is eight months pregnant, was entering a property in Haldane Street at around 8pm on Thursday when a woman attempted to snatch her handbag from her grasp.

The bag strap burst and the contents including her purse scattered across the ground. When Jo moved to stand on her purse to prevent it being taken her assailant punched her.

The incident only came to an end when the victim started shouting at the top of her voice to attract attention.

Reliving her ordeal last night, Jo said protecting her baby had been foremost in her mind.

She said a man with the girl intervened to stop the assault after she shouted she was pregnant.

She said, “The girl grabbed my bag and the strap burst and all the stuff fell out into the street. The girl was trying to get my purse but I had my foot on it.

“She was with a guy who was a short way away and he was just standing there. I shouted at her to go away and he said, ‘C’mon then—just leave it’ and she took a couple of steps back.

“I bent down and got my purse and held it behind me and he told her to leave again. She started to go away and he said to me, ‘Do you want any help?’ I couldn’t believe it.

“I don’t remember thinking ‘I’m pregnant—oh my God,’ but I must have done as I was screaming at her ‘I’m pregnant.’ ”

An ambulance was called to the scene as a precaution because of Jo’s condition. She was found to be fine after checks and did not require medical treatment. She took the further precaution of consulting her doctor yesterday.

Police issued descriptions of Jo’s attacker and her accomplice, who had been seen acting suspiciously at a bus stop at the Strathmartine Road/Haldane Street junction before the incident.

The woman is described as around 16 with a gaunt face, prominent cheekbones and long fair hair. The man is about 5’8’’ tall, had a Dundee accent and was unshaven with unkempt hair.

It is thought the pair may have got on to a bus shortly after the attack took place.

Detective Sergeant Colin Gall of Dundee CID last night said any attack on a vulnerable pregnant woman was extremely serious.

He said, “This was a despicable incident that, given the victim’s condition, could have had appalling consequences.

“We would urge anyone who has information or believes they know who is responsible for this cowardly attack to contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information should contact police on Dundee 223200 or speak to any officer.