Daily Express

Despicable... moment brute attacks a girl of 12 to steal her phone

- By Paul Jeeves

THIS is the terrifying moment a 12-year-old girl was mugged for her iPhone as she was running an errand for her mother.

The callous thug spotted the vulnerable child and tried to grab the phone.

She tried to defend herself and hold on to the mobile but he hurled her to the pavement and grappled with her. Eventually he overpowere­d her and fled.

Police said the girl was unhurt and the actions were captured by CCTV on a street in Derby.

The thug, wearing a purple-coloured tracksuit, was seen walking before suddenly turning back and attacking the girl. He was described as having a “European accent” and aged between 16 and 19.

Police made an appeal after the attack on Sunday and £600 was raised on a Facebook page to replace the phone, doubling to £1,300 in donations.

Paula Wright, 38, who set up the online appeal, said: “I was just so shocked by what I saw in the police appeal I decided we had to do something to try and buy this brave girl a new phone.”

The mother-of-two, of Worksop, Nottingham­shire, added: “Police have told me she luckily didn’t suffer any injuries, but hopefully the money we raise will prove to her that there is a lot more good than bad in the world.”

Detective Constable Mick Stainsby of Derbyshire Police said: “She was attacked for apparently no other reason than to steal her phone.”

A 22-year-old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of robbery.

 ??  ?? Thug terrifies victim as he tries to seize mobile
Thug terrifies victim as he tries to seize mobile
 ??  ?? Callously he overpowers the girl before fleeing
Callously he overpowers the girl before fleeing
 ??  ?? She puts up a fight but he hurls her to ground
She puts up a fight but he hurls her to ground

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