GAZETTE & HERALD: A CHIPPENHAM College student has told how he suffered a panic attack after being robbed and punched in the face on Monday afternoon.

The 17-year-old, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, was walking home from the college through Monkton Park at 2.45pm when he saw two black males standing near the bridge that leads from the park into St Mary Street.

The victim said hello to one of the youths, whom he recognised, and carried on walking, but he soon realised that the other youth was following him.

"He walked up to me and asked: "What have you got for me. He then grabbed my bag and started going through it.

"He took out my wallet and went to leave with the bag, but I said: "Take the money and leave me the wallet and the bag, which had my college work in.

"He went to walk off and I tried to grab the bag but he punched me in the face. He then went off, taking £40 from my wallet, which I had got out from the bank that lunchtime to pay for driving lessons."

The terrified victim, who suffered a bruised and now blackened eye in the assault, called his mother on his mobile phone.

She came to pick him up and took him to the police station where they reported the crime.

But the youth revealed he is now living in fear. "I had a panic attack straight afterwards I was really scared," he said. "Now I keep looking around expecting someone to jump on me and attack me."

PC Rachael Jennings of Chippenham CID said CCTV footage showed two suspects who were detained, but released after questioning.

The suspect is described as black, aged between 17 and 20 years with a deep, gruff voice and accent which made it difficult to understand him. He was about 5ft 8-in tall, of stocky build with curly, black afro-style hair.

Any information to PC Jennings at Chippenham Police on (01249) 654455.