ITV legend 'traumatised' after being assaulted and robbed in daylight
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.
'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.' More Trending
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.
View More »
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.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: Windrush activists rally government to save Notting Hill carnival
MORE: Passengers beg to be rescued from train stuck with no air conditioning after 'slowly cooking'
MORE: Family's plea for truth after man shot dead in 'case of mistaken identity'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Broadcaster Selina Scott 'traumatised' after being robbed
The 74-year-old former ITV News at Ten anchor revealed how she fought back during the terrifying incident last week. Scott 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'. 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. 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.' After starting out her career as a journalist in Dundee, Scott became a national figure as a newsreader for ITN in 1982 at the height of the Falklands War. Recommended reading: ITV to axe popular reality channel ITVBe in summer shake-up Stephen Mulhern dropped from £1m Butlin's magic show Freeview TV's may need retune after ITV Quiz channel launch Scott was also one of the launch team for BBC Breakfast, which began in January 1983. She went on to make a name for herself in America too, scoring her own chat show on US TV in the 90s before heading back to the UK to front Sky's breakfast show. During her career she has interviewed the likes of King Charles and Donald Trump. In 2018, Scott appeared in four episodes of the BBC's The Real Marigold Hotel, shot in Rajasthan.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Selina Scott attacked by robbers in West End
Selina Scott, the veteran newsreader, has revealed she was attacked and robbed in broad daylight in central London last week. Ms Scott, 74, said her purse was stolen by a gang of 'seven or eight men and women of East Asian origin' who surrounded her outside Waterstones bookshop in Piccadilly. Her bank cards, driving licence and cash were taken and she was left with bruising behind her knee, as well as a 'mental scar', following the theft on Tuesday afternoon. She criticised the lack of a police presence in the West End after being unable to find an officer afterwards, and blamed Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, for overseeing the closure of a police station in the area. Ms Scott, one of the most famous faces on television in the 1980s, was the only female newsreader on ITN's News at 10 before becoming one of the founding anchors of BBC's Breakfast Time in 1983. Following a 30-year broadcasting career, she now runs a farm in North Yorkshire. She had travelled to London on Tuesday to visit the Royal Academy of Arts and was stepping out of Waterstones when she was targeted in a 'co-ordinated assault' near a busy bus stop. Ms Scott said the gang quickly surrounded her. 'A casually dressed group of seven or eight men and women of East Asian origin who had been walking in front of me, dressed in expensive sportswear, had turned and hemmed me in,' she wrote in an article for The Mail on Sunday. She managed to hold onto the bag but her purse was stolen from inside it. She said the gang then walked off 'laughing'. 'I looked for a police officer but saw none' Ms Scott said: 'I resolved to find a police officer, but despite walking up and down some of London's busiest central areas – down Jermyn Street, along Piccadilly and over to Leicester Square – I saw none. 'West End Central police station, which would have been a 10-minute walk away, had closed permanently in 2021 after being sold to developers for a reported £50 million... 'The first priority of the Mayor of London should be to protect the public from lawlessness and keep police stations open in crime hotspots. Sir Sadiq Khan has instead overseen their wholesale closure.' She added: 'I am now only too relieved it wasn't a knife they used.' Police officers arranged to visit Ms Scott the following day. However, they then called her in the morning to say 'they couldn't find an available police car' and would instead speak to her over the phone, Ms Scott said. She told them she no longer wished to pursue the matter and the investigation was closed.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
ITV broadcaster left 'traumatised' after being robbed and assaulted in London
Selina Scott was robbed by a London gang in broad daylight in a calculated attack. ITV legend Selina Scott has revealed that she has been left 'traumatised' after she was robbed and assaulted by a group of eight people in central London. The 74-year-old was attacked in broad daylight after she left a Waterstones near Piccadilly. Recounting the attack, former ITV News at Ten reporter said the group of assailants - that were described as appearing to be East Asian and wearing expensive sportswear - at first seemed like a normal group of passers-by as she exited the book store. However, the gang suddenly turned on her. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, she said: "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." She went on to say that she had been struck behind the knee and found herself cornered in, reports the Mirror. She recalled that she thought she had been stabbed in the leg at the time. Clinging tightly to her designer handbag, the former reporter said that another group then rammed into her from the other side. She said: "I was being attacked from both sides at the same time." Despite trying her best to fight back and hold onto her bag, the attackers were eventually able to unzip the bag and run off with her purse, which contained her cards, cash and drivers license. She admitted: "I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can't believe it happened to me." She revealed that the attack has left her both emotionally shaken and physically bruised: "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." Famously known for interviewing Donald Trump during her journalism career, Selina's fear has turned into anger. She expressed that she was left outraged as she felt there was a visible absence of law enforcement in the capital city. She said: "I walked up and down some of London's busiest central areas and didn't see a single officer. 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." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The Metropolitan police have since responded to the incident and have defended their presence in the area. They stated: "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." However, throughout the whole ordeal, Selina shared that she was ultimately relieved that her attackers weren't carrying a knife. However, this doesn't mean she is still not shaken by the incident: "It was so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault."
