A BRUTAL attack saw a mum pushed and kicked to the ground by a man who “tried to steal her dog” and sentimental bracelet.

Pauline Thomas, 62, from Noak Bridge, Basildon, was pinned to the ground by her attacker as she screamed in fear hoping to scare him off.

The mum-of-three was walking her nine-year-old Staffordshire bull-terrier, Penny, in the field next to Noak Bridge pub when the violent attack happened on Tuesday afternoon.

Pauline said: “All of a sudden this man was walking over and he shouted out “have you got the time” so I pulled my phone out of my pocket to look at the time.

“I noticed he was getting quite close to me. Something just twigged and I knew he was going to try to grab my dog.

“Luckily I let go of the lead and she ran off which I was so pleased about.

“He then noticed my gold bracelet which was my late brother-in-laws. He pushed me on the floor and kicked my stomach and then kept his foot there.

“He then put his knee into my stomach to keep me there and he had his hand over my bracelet really trying to grab it off.”

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Pauline was left terrified after the attack.

She added: “I started screaming really loud, as loud as a I possibly could.

“I think he got scared that someone could come along. He got up and I saw him head into the trees. I noticed there was a white transit van which he got into.

“I really thought he wasn’t going to give up that easily.

“I just can’t believe it happened, it happened so quickly. I was so scared.

“I won’t be walking her on my own again.”

Pauline is now urging everyone to be careful when walking their dogs and to not go alone.

She said: “It’s such a quiet area and you get so many elderly people over the field.

“You just don’t expect that.

“I’d just tell people to really be careful and make sure you have someone with you. Just be totally aware.”

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We were called to reports of an attempted robbery in South Wash Road, Basildon at around 2.40pm on Tuesday 22 June.

It was reported the victim, a woman in her 60s, had been walking her dog when she was approached by a man who tried to take her bracelet.

“She was knocked to the floor but nothing was taken.

“Please quote the crime reference number 42/119994/21.

“You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”