AN 18-year-old woman’s phone was stolen from her after a man spat in her face and punched her during a robbery police are calling “violent and cowardly”.

The woman was with her sister in a car parked outside Kays Corner Stores in Desborough Park Road, High Wycombe, at 8.15pm last night when the attack happened.

A man - described as black, of medium build, around 19 to 20 years old and wearing a black hooded top and trousers – spat in her face and punched her before running off towards Eaton Avenue with her Blackberry Curve, say police.

The woman sustained minor injuries and was checked over by paramedics. She told them she had been knocked unconscious.

Police believe the woman had an argument with the attacker prior to robbery.

Ch Insp Colin Seaton said: “This is a violent and cowardly crime and I do not want to understate my determination to catch this man.”

Contact police on 0845 8 505 505 or the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.