Pregnant woman who lost unborn baby in street attack: 'I have been crying ever since'

 
Distraught: Bozena Nowak,43, with husband Jerzy, 37, and their daughter Julia
Standard Reporter17 October 2014

A pregnant woman who lost her unborn child after a savage street robbery has branded her attackers "despicable".

Bozena Nowak, 43, was waiting at a bus stop when three teenagers pounced, and she struggled to hold on to her handbag, containing £170, as it was snatched from her.

Later Mrs Nowak, who was between four and eight weeks pregnant, noticed she was bleeding, went to hospital and was told she had miscarried the baby.

Police have arrested two teenagers and are hunting a third following the attack at 5.55am last Saturday in Cromwell Road in Salford, Greater Manchester.

The Polish-born mother-of-three told the Daily Mail: "It was terrible, I was so frightened. I was shouting 'help, help!' but there was no-one around.

"Then we found out I lost the baby.

"I have been so upset and crying ever since. The baby was planned and we were really looking forward to having our fourth baby.

"It is so shocking that something like this can happen in England. The people who did this are despicable."

Mrs Nowak and her husband, Jerzy, came to England eight years ago for a better life. Mrs Nowak was on her way to work in a meat packing factory when she was mugged.

Mr Nowak, 37, a warehouse worker, said: "I cannot understand why young people would do this."

A 17-year-old appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to robbery. He was remanded into custody ahead of a further hearing later this month at Manchester Crown Court.

Another youth, also 17, has been arrested and police are hunting a third male, aged between 16 and 20.

Police want to speak to this man after the assault

Detective Sergeant Roger Smethurst, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "This is a shocking and tragic case, and one that will undoubtedly have a lasting psychological impact upon the poor victim.

"Excellent policing work has gone into tracking down two of the youths we believe to be responsible for this sickening attack, but it is imperative that we try and track down the third man as quickly as possible.

"If you believe you saw a man matching this description in the area at the time, or if you recognise this man, do not protect him, please contact police as soon as possible."

The man police want to trace was wearing a black hoodie with white stripes down the arms, a black body warmer with a white motif, and dark tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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