Broadcaster Selina Scott has been left ‘shattered and traumatised’ after being attacked by a gang in London last week.
The former ITV News at Ten anchor, 74, has revealed how she fought back during a terrifying attempted robbery in broad daylight.
Recalling the incident, the Real Marigold Hotel star said she was leaving a branch of Waterstones in central London when she was struck on the back of her knee, leaving her feeling as if she had been ‘stabbed’.
Moments later, the gang attempted to snatch her designer backpack, which she tightly held onto, however one of the thieves unzipped it and removed her purse before running off.
She lost her bank cards, driving licence, and cash in the robbery, which left her feeling ‘embarrassed’.
Another group then barged into her and she realised she was being ‘attacked from both sides at the same time’.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Scott said the events were ‘so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault.’
She explained: ‘I was right by a busy bus stop, although no one would have known what was going on.
‘It was slick, brief and clearly engineered to happen in the middle of a crowd. I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can’t believe it happened to me.’
‘I’m mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way they can attack anyone. You’re left feeling not just traumatised, but stupid that you have somehow let it happen.’
The presenter, who has interviewed the likes of King Charles and Donald Trump during her career, shared her frustration over the lack of police presence in the capital.
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‘I’m also furious about the lack of police on our streets. No wonder the gang who set about me have a sense of impunity – they can do anything they want because they know no one will stop them.’
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘While we understand that the victim was frustrated that she couldn’t see any police officers on the street, a significant number of officers patrol the West End every day – not just in uniform on foot, but also in plain clothes and in vehicles to have the best opportunity to identify and apprehend suspects.
‘We would be happy to talk to the victim to better understand her concerns.’
Scott originally worked as a journalist in Dundee before making her TV debut on the nightly news programme Grampian Today and later, regional show North Tonight.
From there she went national as a newsreader for ITN in 1982 at the height of the Falklands War – with viewing figures soaring as a result of her fronting bulletins.
Scott’s star rose further as one of the launch team for BBC Breakfast, which began in January 1983.
She went on to make a name for herself across the pond, scoring her own chat show on US TV in the 90s before heading back here to front Sky’s breakfast show.
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