Appeal After Cashpoint Attack

1 June 2011, 10:28

Police in Portsmouth are seeking help from the public after an attack on a local man who had been using a cashpoint in the city.

At approximately 9:50pm on Friday evening, May 27, 2011, the 27-year-old had just withdrawn money from a cash machine on London Road, outside Tesco Express. He was grabbed from behind by a man and threatened with a knife.

In the struggle which followed, the victim received a cut to his hand but did not require medical treatment. The money he had withdrawn from the machine was taken from him.

The victim managed to run away towards Shadwell Road and was followed by the man and a woman for a short time until they ran off towards North End Junction. The victim then returned to the cash point to collect some belongings, which had been dropped in the attack.

The man suspected of assaulting the victim is described as:

 > White

 > Around 5 ft 10 ins tall

 > Clean shaven

 > Aged in his mid-20s

 > Short blond hair

 > Slim build

 > Wearing a black jacket with white lines running from shoulder to cuff

 The woman, who was with the man, is described as:

 > White

 > Brown hair in a pony tail, which came to below her shoulders

 > Aged in her mid-20s

 > Slim build

 > Similar height to the man

 > Wearing light blue jeans and a dark blue tracksuit jacket zipped up

 Detective Constable Allison Fraser said:

 “Fortunately the victim was not badly hurt but has been left very shaken by this unprovoked attack in which £30 was stolen. It’s alleged the offender was behind the victim, as if waiting to use the machine. We can see from CCTV that at least two people walked past before the attack happened, along with many cars, which passed while the struggle took place. I’m asking anyone who thinks they could have information for us, no matter how minor it seems, to contact me, or to tell Crimestoppers if you would prefer to remain anonymous.”

Anyone with information can contact DC Fraser in Fratton CID by phoning 101 or emailing http://www.hampshire.police.uk/Internet/contact/message_officer.htm.