A MUM has spoken of her terrifying ordeal at the hands of a daylight mugger.

Debbie Hughes, 45, was targeted as she was out shopping in Wrexham on Saturday.

Debbie, a pharmacy assistant, was waiting for her husband to pick her up when the thief came up from behind and snatched her handbag containing cash and credit cards.

In giving chase to the robber she injured her leg and is now on crutches.

Debbie’s nightmare began just after she left the Wilkinson’s store at Island Green around 12.20pm.

She had just phoned husband Max, a 59-year-old postman, to pick her up when the thief ran up to her and ripped the handbag from her hand.

He then raced off across nearby Watery Road and Jubilee Road in the direction of Bellevue Park.

On the way he dropped some of the contents of the handbag. Although some of Debbie’s credit cards were later found, one of the cards, along with £85 in cash which was zipped into a pocket of the bag, were not recovered.

Debbie briefly gave chase to the thief but after only a few steps tore the tendons in her left leg and dropped to the floor in agony.

The police attended but despite a search of the area could find no trace of the handbag snatcher.

Debbie, who is now recovering at home in Acrefair, said: “It all happened so fast I hardly knew what was going on.

“I had just phoned Max to come and pick me up and was looking for his car on the road when the thief took my bag.

 “I tried to run after him but I had to stop when I hurt my leg.

“I had to spend four hours in casualty and it was very painful although it is now getting better.”

She added: “I’ve had to cancel my credit card and get the locks on the house changed, which is all a lot of inconvenience.

“You just don’t expect this sort of thing to happen while you’re out shopping in a town centre in broad daylight.

“It is very traumatic and I’ll be looking over my shoulder every time I go out now.

“What was worse was that Max had just picked up our nine-year-old son Jack from the football and he was in the car at the time. It made him upset seeing me in tears.”

Max said: “One wonderful lady waited with my wife and I would like to thank her for her kindness. The police were also very helpful.

“If you can’t shop in Wrexham at 12.20 in the afternoon on a Saturday and feel safe without some scumbag stealing a handbag from a defenceless lady then when can you shop?”

The thief, who is thought to be in his early 20s, is believed to have been wearing a white hooded top with a blue stripe and the hood up along with cream-coloured trousers.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101.