A cold-hearted thief mugged a frontline coronavirus nurse as she cycled home from work - then threatened to stab her when she demanded her stuff back.
Gillian Bishop had just finished her first day back at a doctor's practice, after self-isolating with Covid-19 symptoms, when a hooded man snatched her handbag.
The 62-year-old then followed the man in an attempt to reclaim her possessions but he turned around and reportedly told her "come closer and I'll stab you".
The usually busy street was empty due to the lockdown and so Ms Bishop backed down - but the shock of the incident led to a sleepless night and she couldn't work the next day.
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The health care assistant had finished her shift at Queens Park Medical Centre in Stockton at 5pm on Tuesday, she told TeessideLive.
She described how less than a mile into her journey the thief rammed her bike from behind and took her bag from the basket.
It contained "everything", including work keys which allow her to access lifesaving medicine from special cupboards.
She said: "I was riding home from work and a bike came behind mine and a bloke in a hoodie put his bike into mine and grabbed my handbag out of the basket on the front.
"I had everything in my bag - my purse and phone, my NHS keyworker letter for going back and forward to work and my works keys which have access to drug cupboards."
However, the incident took a turn for the worse when the brave mum-of-three pursued the criminal up Dovecot Street, off Stockton High Street.
"He had his hand in his jacket pocket and I saw a flash of orange - but didn't actually see a blade - and he said that he would knife me if went any closer," she explained.
Ms Bishop didn't suffer any physical injuries but said she was still feeling the affects of the ordeal the next day.
"I had a wobble on my bike," she said. "But I haven't gone into work today as I didn't sleep well last night."
And with over 20 years experience, she has never had any problems on her way to and from the practice before.
As Ms Bishop returned to her home in Hartburn, she was disappointed to find that her debit card had already been used at a convenience store near the train station.
Two contactless transactions are believed to have been made just 10 minutes after the cards were stolen, according to a shop assistant.
The incident comes after the health care assistant had to self isolate for two weeks at home.
"I was glad to get back to normal after being off work for two weeks. It was my first day back at work," she said.
Ms Bishop developed coronavirus symptoms over two weeks ago including a cough, high temperature and exhaustion.
She "slept for three days solid" and "couldn't get out of bed" while suffering with what she believes was COVID-19.
Her husband Robert had to contact the 111 service due to his wife's ongoing high temperature.
Ms Bishop added: "My temperature was reluctant to come down but they just told me to regularly take paracetamol.
"He said they were very good but I didn't have any difficulties with my breathing thankfully."
Ms Bishop says she has reported the matter to police.
