WALTHAMSTOW: Mystery cyclist thwarts mugger

12:39pm Monday 11th February 2008

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A MUGGING victim is keen to contact a Good Samaritan who chased the thief on his bicycle.

Ayesha Hassan was walking along Somers Road, Waltham-stow, at 9.15am on February 6 when the hooded hoodlum struck, grabbing her bag and running off with it.

She gave chase, desperate to recover the bag with her wallet, prayer books and mobile phone inside.

Mrs Hassan, 38, from Waltha-mstow, ran down Somers Road, despite having little chance of catching up with her mugger.

She said: "He was a black guy with a beige hood and dark trousers and he ran really fast. I would say he was a teenager because he was really fit.

"I thought I'm never going to get my bag back so I don't know why I'm running'."

After around ten minutes she was forced to stop, out of breath and exhausted.

A cyclist asked her what was wrong and when she explained he jumped on his bike to chase the thief into Erskine Road, then Hatherley Road and Campbell Road.

Mrs Hassan followed and soon he returned with her bag and all its contents.

"I was surprised and pleased. I wasn't expecting to see it back," she said, describing her saviour as a middle-aged white man with glasses and a pink top on.

"I didn't get his name or number or anything. I just wanted to thank him for doing what he did. Other people would just have thought I was just a crazy woman in the road."

Were you Mrs Hassan's Good Samaritan, or do you know who he was? Email scosgrove @london.newsquest.co.uk or call 020 8498 3400