A Dundee student has told how she is struggling to sleep after she was robbed at knifepoint on her walk home.
Tayside Police called eight police cars and the dogs section to the Mill o’ Mains area of the city on Sunday evening after Jennifer Hunt was assaulted on her way home.
Mental health nursing student Jennifer (20) had been looking after her younger siblings at her mum’s house in Eskdale Avenue and was on her way to Emmock Woods when the attack took place between 9pm and 9.30pm.
”I had been watching my brother and sister in the house for my mum who was working,” she said. ”I realised I didn’t have any money for the bus for uni the next day or any milk in the house so my mum said she would drop me at the roundabout on Forfar Road and I could go to the shop in Mill O’ Mains.”
When Jennifer got out of the car she saw the shop shutters were down so decided to make her way home, down the path which leads into Barns of Claverhouse.
”I had walked there that day with my dog and I walk it all the time,” she said. ”Then I heard a voice behind me saying ‘Do you have a lighter?”’
Jennifer told the man she didn’t but then she noticed him getting closer.
”I heard the pace quicken up behind me,” she said. ”I tried to speed up but he banged into me and hurt my shoulder and down my back.
”He had a knife in his hand, which was obviously intimidating. He wasn’t overly aggressive but he told me to open my bag so he could take whatever he wanted.”
The attacker then helped himself to Jennifer’s iPhone, purse containing her bank card, credit card and driving licence, and a purse containing painkillers. He even made her take off her wristwatch before he ran off.
Shocked, Jennifer hurried home and called her mum.
”I was in a bit of a mess,” she said. ”She told me to ring the police. They were really good. They sent eight cars round and they brought the dogs just in case they could still smell him.”
Jennifer lives with her stepfather but he works offshore and only returned home on Wednesday night.
She said the ordeal has left her really shaken.
”I haven’t been back at uni since,” she said. ”I haven’t been able to sleep much. I had somebody stay with me that night. It’s a big deal with me staying by myself when my dad’s away. I’ve been staying at my mum’s too.
”I walk that path all the time, with earphones in or at night. This was still light. I wouldn’t like this to happen to anyone else. He didn’t hurt me but sometimes that’s worse because it stays with you.”
Police have appealed for anyone who has information regarding the assault to get in touch.
A spokeswoman said: ”The woman was walking on the public footpath, which leads from Hebrides Drives to Barns of Claverhouse, when she was approached by a man who threatened her with a knife before stealing the contents of her bag, which included an iPhone, purse, watch and prescribed medication. He then ran off in the direction of Barns of Claverhouse.
”Although upset by the incident, the woman did not require medial attention.”
The attacker is described as being in his early 20s, about 6ft, of slim build, with short blonde hair which may have been possibly dyed.
At the time of the attack he was wearing dark jogging bottoms, white trainers, a dark polo shirt and a dark hooded top with the hood up.
Anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident, or who has information that could assist inquiries can call the police on 0300 111 2222 or speak to any officer.