Student beaten up by two men trying to steal her pug

Victim warns other dog walkers to go out in pairs

A pug pictured out for a walk in Birmingham in 2017. (PA)

A 22-year-old woman was assaulted in Plymouth on Monday by two men who tried to steal her dog, the police have said.

The attack took place in the city’s Mutley Plain area, according to the Devon and Cornwall Police, which has launched an investigation into the incident.

Student Allie Knight was out for a walk with her pug Paddy when she was attacked by the men between 9.30 and 10pm, leaving her with bruises to her face, neck and wrist.

She told the BBC that they shoved her to the ground, repeatedly punched her and frisked her pockets, which were empty.

Next, the two men went for the dog but she held onto its leash.

"I had my motorcycle gloves on, so I gave a few punches back, grabbed my dog and tried to run, but one of them grabbed my wrist, and they both took me to the ground again and started hitting me in the face whilst I just gripped her as tightly as I could, she said.

Ms Knight added that her attackers “thankfully” ran away when they heard a car coming.

As a result of her experiences, she warned other dog walkers to be “observant and watchful” and to go out in pairs.

The assault and attempted dog theft comes after police forces and animal charities across the country reported a spike in the number of pets being stolen since the start of the pandemic.

In August, the charity DogLost said there were a 65 per cent rise in dog thefts between 23 March and 1 June, compared to the same period in 2019.

At the time, Chris O’Brien, a detective inspector with the Cambridgeshire police, said: “With more people working from home and finding themselves with extra time, the demand for dogs has soared across the country.

“However, this has in turn resulted in huge increases in prices which has sadly led to criminals taking advantage of the situation by stealing dogs in an attempt to sell them on at a high price.”

The police are appealing for witnesses in connection to Monday night’s attack.