A TERRIFIED mum was left fearing for her and her baby's life after a man threatened to stab her during an attempted robbery.

Freya Salleh, 21, was taking her four-month-old daughter for an evening stroll on a footpath near the Asda roundabout by Nether Priors, in Basildon, before the attack on Tuesday.

A man on a bike asked Freya for the time before rummaging through her pockets for cash.

The young mum pleaded with the attacker to leave her alone before he threatened to stab her with a knife.

Freya said: "I had just put my phone in my pocket and a guy was riding towards me on his bike.

"I moved to the side to let him pass. He asked me if I had the time. In the time that I checked he had grabbed hold of the pram.

"He told me to empty my pockets and to give him cash, card and my wallet.

"I told him I didn't have anything on me and pulled out my pockets.

"He then unzipped my coat and went through my trouser pockets and then went through the pram.

"I said to him please don't do this, please leave me alone.

"He said he had a knife and that he would stab me."

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Freya screamed as loud as she could for help when she saw a man walk down the path where the attack was taking place, prompting the attacker to flee the scene.

She added: "It was just a case of waiting for someone to come down the road to help.

"I saw a guy turn down the road and I screamed for help. I screamed as loud as I could. As soon as he saw him he got on his bike and rode off.

"I don't know what would have happened if he hadn't showed up."

The 21-year-old has now been left frightened to go out alone.

She hopes by raising awareness, it will stop the attack from happening to someone else.

Freya said: "I did fear for me and my baby.

"I'm worried about going out on my own but I don't want to be trapped inside.

"It will just be getting over the shock of it.

"You just go on a walk and don't think something like that is going to happen."

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "We are investigating an allegation of attempted robbery in Basildon.

"It was reported to us that it happened at around 6:05pm on Monday 27 July at Nether Priors.
"Anyone who has any information can call us on 101 and quote reference 42/149288/21.

"You can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk or use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.
Alternatively, information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."