A WOMAN in a wheelchair was assaulted and her phone stolen in a Poole street.

The incident happened outside the former Iceland supermarket, in the High Street, at around 8.45pm on Saturday (May 11).

Police said the victim, a woman in her 50s, was approached “by a man who was known to her”.

“The man was reportedly abusive toward her and spat in the victim’s face before taking her mobile phone and walking off from the scene in the direction of Old Orchard,” a Dorset Police spokesperson added.

PC Lauren Gibbins, of Poole police, said: “This was a nasty incident involving a vulnerable victim and we are carrying out a number of enquiries into this matter.

“As part of our investigation, I am keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Poole High Street around the time of the incident and may have witnessed what happened.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55240070398, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.