A CALLOUS thug robbed a woman and got away with just £19 and a bunch of bananas.

The incident has left the victim shaken and she has been forced to take time off work.

The 43-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, was on her way home from work at about 5pm on Saturday and as she walked along Pitsea Road, in Basildon, she was set upon twice by the opportunist thief.

She said: “As I walked home from work coming up Pitsea Road, just before you get to the nursery, there were some bushes and it was already quite dark.

“I didn’t hear the man come up to me and he just grabbed my shopping bag which only had a bunch of bananas in it.

“He said something to me in another language and pulled me over as he grabbed my bag off of me and ran off.

“I tried to get up as quickly as I could but he came back and just pushed me back down to the floor and took my handbag.

“I was trying to hold onto it but he was too strong, and I didn’t want to fight too much in case he had a knife. I screamed a bit but I was in so much shock and scared.

“Luckily I had my phone and cards in my pocket, and I only had £19 in my purse. I was just so shocked.

“He ran off in the direction of the park, and I just got up and walked really fast and got myself home.

“I was too scared to get my phone out to call the police in case he came back, but I phoned them as soon as I got home

“I’m scared to go down that way again, I haven’t been out since it happened, and I am sore and bruised.

“I’ve also been off work. When I go back I will have to find a different route. I want him caught so he doesn’t do it to anyone else.”

The victim suffered cuts to her hands and a huge bruise on her stomach round to her hip, and has badly sprained her arm.

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 5.25pm on Saturday with reports of a robbery in Pitsea Road, Basildon.

“A woman aged in her 40s was approached from behind and forced to the floor, suffering cuts to her hands.

“The suspect then ran off with her bag, which contained her house keys, a purse and identification.

“He is aged in his late 20s to mid-30s, around 5ft 5ins tall, clean shaven and wore a black balaclava, black jacket and blue jeans.”

Anyone with information should call Basildon police station on 101 quoting crime reference 42/14166/19.