TWO young women were followed, assaulted and robbed on their way to work yesterday morning. 


A man followed a 22-year-old woman between Fitch Drive to Willingdon Road, Brighton, grabbed her and punched her repeatedly to the ground today at 7am.


He ran off back along a path through the woods leading to Fitch Drive.


At about the same time, a 24-year-old woman was walking near to the Meadow View Community Centre in Bevendean when she was approached by a man who asked for a cigarette. 


She said she didn't smoke and he followed her for about half a mile to Coombe Road, near to Coombe Road Primary School. 


He then punched her, grabbed her bag, and threatened her by saying he had a knife. 
He grabbed her hand and walked with her a short distance before she managed to flag down a passing car.


He left the area with her yellow bag.


One of the young victims had to go to hospital for a check-up on her injuries. 


Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incidents in the Coombe Road area. 


They said the incident happened during a busy time in the morning and any motorists or pedestrians in the area could be a huge help to the investigation.


The first man was described as 5ft7in, thin build wearing a dark jacket, with the hood up and a scarf pulled up around his face. 


He was wearing black gloves with plastic pads on the fingers. 


The second man was described as a similar height and black, wearing a green zipped up hoody with the hood up and dark baggy trousers. 


He wore new, hi-top style trainers.


A police spokesman said: “Were you in the Coombe Road area of Brighton on Tuesday morning?
“Officers are investigating incidents involving two woman who were approached as they walked to work on Tuesday (November 27) and were grabbed. 


“One woman was punched and the other was punched and robbed of her bag.


“It was a busy time of the morning and a motorist or passer-by may be able to help with the investigation.


Detective Inspector Simon Morgan said: “We believe these incidents on Tuesday morning are linked and although the descriptions differ slightly, they are similar.


“They both happened in the same area, only a short walk apart.


“We are treating them as robberies and both women suffered injuries and one needed to be checked over at hospital.


“The Coombe Road area is very busy with people at this time of the morning and we appealing to anyone who might have seen anything which could help.


“We would particularly like to speak to motorists on Coombe Road who might have seen the victim but not realised what was happening and didn’t stop.


“Also any residents who might have looked out of their window and seen something which could help.


“Anyone with information or who witnessed anything is asked to contact us online quoting Operation Kinloss.”