Knife raider terrified woman in underpass

A KNIFE-wielding robber left a young woman terrified in an underpass then targeted a man in a similar attack just hours later.

- By ROB KENNEDY

A 20-year-old woman was walking along Eslington Road, in Jesmond, Newcastle, heading to her car having finished work around 4pm on May 26.

As she entered an underpass under the Central Motorway, she became aware of a man close to her, which turned out to be Oussama Ettrii, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He then muttered something like “have you got an iPhone charger”.

Saba Shan, prosecuting, said: “She noticed he had an iPhone in one hand and a black kitchen knife in the other hand. He was holding the knife down by his side.

“She panicked and began to shout for help. He told her to shush and not to panic but she continued to shout for help.

“She said ‘please don’t’ as she didn’t know what he intended to do. She ran towards her vehicle, not stopping when one of her shoes fell off.”

After locking herself in the car, she called police.