Veteran BBC newsreader Jan Leeming fights off bag snatcher in ‘sleepy’ French village

Former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming was fought off a bag snatcher in a ‘sleepy’ after being ‘rugby tackled’ to the floor before before he fled empty-handed in a getaway car.

Ms Leeming, 80, says she has been left ‘very shaken’ and suffered a ‘very deep graze’ to her arm after she was attacked while her friends were using the ATM in ‘sleepy little village’ in France.

The ex-news anchor was ‘rugby tackled to the ground’ after the man approached her at first appearing ‘courteous’ and ‘extending his hand’ towards her.

Taking to Twitter following the incident, she said: ‘Horrid experience. Attacked close to ATM friends were using. 

‘Youngish man seemed pleasant held out hand – like a first rate idiot being courteous I took it. Rugby tackled to ground. Bag was over my arm- he didn’t get it. Got six inch gash on arm back of hand black and blue.

Ms Leeming pictured during her news reading days at the BBC, where she was once mugged by three intruders

She added: ‘It was horrid but well orchestrated with a getaway car. My head was very close to oncoming car. 

‘Think there was CCTV but he wore a mask – car took a left so friends couldn’t get number plate.’

It comes 35 years after she was mugged at the BBC.

Ms Leeming said it ‘brought back memories of the mugging’ at the corporation’s headquarters 

In 1987, three intruders mugged her for her handbag and threw ammonia into her face before she ran screaming into the newsroom.

Responding to tweets of sympathy today, she added: ‘He indicated that she should use the machine before him and might have snatched her cash.

‘Then he asked me if I spoke French and extended his hand. I thought it was a friendly gesture. That’s when he tackled me to the ground

‘Even if he were caught I doubt very much he’d get a prison sentence – a rap on the knuckles and told not to do it again. In many respects the Law has gone soft.

‘What could one carry? Pepper spray. We cant make allowances for every exigency however bad or we would batten down the hatches and never do anything.. One has to live.

‘There was CCTV at the ATM but he wore a mask and the getaway car took an almost immediate left round a corner so friends didn’t get the number plate – probably forged anyway.

‘Gendarmerie was closed and when friends phoned number it went to answer. zilch chance of catching them.

‘Please don’t worry. I’m absolutely fine – not traumatised one little bit.. Just sore with a few bruises and a massive dressing on my arm.

‘Thank you all so much for your warmth and good wishes.’