Female student punched in the face in ANOTHER Selly Oak attack, this time on Raddlebarn Road

A violent thug punched a female student in the face in a brutal attempted mugging on Saturday.

The final year student, who was walking home alone on Raddlebarn Road, was left with a black eye after he aggressively punched her several times as she fell to the ground.

The BCU student, who wishes to be kept anonymous, was walking home at around 3am after a night out with friends, when she was attacked just near the Country Girl pub.

The attack happened at 3am on Raddlebarn Road

Muggers approached the victim near the Country Girl pub

She told the Tab: “I noticed the guy when I looked over my shoulder and managed to zip my phone in my pocket in time before he came and grabbed me from behind.

“The man didn’t say anything to me which I though was odd but managed to punch me and throw me towards the floor. I was carrying a clutch bag and don’t remember him tugging at it, which I also thought was a bit strange as it probably would’ve been easy to get. All I remember was that he was grabbing and hitting me.

“But because I was close to the main road and the street was very lit up compared to the rest of the journey, I don’t think he could have done much more.”

She described her attacker to be a tall white male aged around 26-30, wearing tracksuit bottoms with shaved light brown/ blonde hair.

She added: “He suddenly ran off and headed down the left hand side down of oak tree lane and I ran the opposite way towards Katie road.

“Luckily, he didn’t manage to steal anything and the worst that has come of it is a black eye, a sore jaw and a few other marks on my body, so I’m quite thankful.”

Read more on the Selly Oak crime wave

• Students demand more as police struggle to keep control situation
• Shocking armed robbery on Tiverton leaves students traumatised
• Another shocking armed robbery on campus

When asked how the incident made her feel about walking alone, she told the Tab: “I don’t think I’ll be walking about in Selly on my own when it’s dark, regardless of the time.

“I would strongly advise anyone to just get a taxi, even if it’s not far away, it’s just worth it to be safe. Especially with the high number of incidents happening in the last couple of weeks.”

She added: “This isn’t great timing for me as I have end of year deadlines in 2 weeks. Luckily I’m not too conscious about my face and I’m just getting on with it.”

Police are investigating the incident but have not yet made any arrests but are urging witnesses to call 101 with any information.

Crime wave

The attack follows a string of similar crimes in recent days. Two weeks ago, seven female students were ambushed by a gang of thugs who burst into their house and threatened to kill them if they didn’t hand over their phones and laptops.

One victim told The Tab: “I am just traumatised, we’ve tried to get on with things, but I can’t concentrate on my work. Every time I do I just picture that knife being held to my chest. We are all very shaken and scared.”

Another eight traumatised students were left fearing for their lives on Friday night, when a machete-wielding gang attempted to rob the group as they walked home from a house party on the Bournbrook Road.

Thugs held a foot-long knife held to one student’s chest, and told him: “Empty your pockets, or we’ll kill you.”

The Tab reported a terrifying armed robbery on Tiverton Road at the end of February

Terrified students have reported buying baseball bats to arm themselves

The male student who received the death threat at knifepoint said: “I don’t feel safe anymore, I have to think twice about even walking out the front door. I wouldn’t leave the house at night now.”

Voicing similar fears, another victim said: “I don’t feel safe here at all. I can’t walk home in the dark or even leave the house in the evening.

“I felt so vulnerable, I have never experienced anything like this in my life.

“After reading about the Tiverton robbery, this has made it clear to me that anybody could be a victim. No one is safe now.”

And on Saturday night a gang attempted to mug a student on campus, as he walked home from library.

The Raddlebarn Road attack is the fourth high-profile incident, but unconfirmed reports of other attacks have circled round Selly.

Selly Oak is now one of the worst neighbourhoods in the region for crime, and ONE IN THREE UoB students will be a victim of crime during their time here.

Some students have directed their anger at police, who they feel could do more to protect them, and a series of allegations of incompetence and negligence have been levelled against the force.

One angry victim accused officers of “showing a sinister undercurrent of laziness and preconceptions about students.”

He told The Tab: “I have lost all previous trust in the police to protect me.”

Some students say they have lost trust in the police (posed by models)

Success.. Police have made arrests in recent days

But police have made five arrests related to crime in Selly Oak in recent days and they insist the crime wave is only a “temporary increase”.

In an interview with The Tab, Sergeant Simon Williams emphasised that police presence has been significantly increased, but urged students to work with them and come forward with information.

In response to the allegations made about incompetence and negligence, he  made it known that he would be investigating the incidents and added: ”We welcome feedback and strive to deliver the best possible service we can provide.”

If you saw anything, you should contact the police on 101.

For important news and updates on staying safe in Selly, follow The Tab on Facebook and Selly Oak police on Twitter.