Fears are growing over rising knife crime in a coastal town after a woman and her young child were threatened at knifepoint and robbed in a supermarket car park.
Police say a man threatened the victim in the Asda car park in Bull Hill Road Clacton and stole a three-figure sum of cash and the woman's mobile phone. He then forced her to drive to a location near The Ship pub in Great Clacton in what is being described as a "shocking" and "awful" attack.
It comes after another violent incident just metres away in St John's Road a few days earlier, where a teenage lifeguard was left shaken after robbers stole his prized bicycle during a knifepoint attack.
MORE: CCTV shows man walking across Asda car park with knife in his handNow Carlo Guglielmi, deputy leader of Tendring District Council, said he hopes these attacks don't set the scene for more violent incidents in the town. He added: "It has been a while since we've had knife attacks like this in Clacton and I hope it doesn't set the scene for more incidents of violence in the future.
"This latest incident in the car park was a shocking and awful incident which must have been very traumatic for the family involved. I really do feel for the family and hope they are being supported.
"Hearing about knife crime is always concerning. But we have a very active community partnership with the police in Clacton and I look forward to hearing more from them about these incidents.
"I'm sure they are working hard to bring those responsible to justice."
MP Giles Watling said: "Clacton is a safe place to live but I am really sorry for this victim and we need to get to the bottom of what happened."
CCTV images of a man police want to speak to in connection with the attack on the woman and her young child, which happened between 10am and 11am on Thursday, have been released by police.
The suspect is described as white, in his late 20s, with decaying teeth and a birthmark or bruise under his right eye.
Anyone who recognises the man is urged not to approach him but to call police on 101 quoting incident 361 of January 16.
MORE: Teenager left "shaken" after bike stolen during knifepoint robberyThe teenage lifeguard, who worked two jobs to afford his Mafia bike, was cycling in St John's Road on Monday when two men demanded he hand over his prized possession, worth hundreds of pounds. After threatening him with a knife, the suspects stole the bicycle, which has two distinctive purple wheels. The victim has since been reunited with the bike after his sister published a plea on Facebook, but the saddle had been stolen and significant other damage had been caused to the item.
To help, call Essex Police on 101.
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