A TEENAGER was punched and mugged while walking home across the Meadows.

The 19-year-old was walking along North Meadow Walk towards the city centre yesterday at around 1.45pm when a man approached another woman in front of her and asked for a light.

He then approached the victim, attempted to snatch her handbag, and when she resisted punched her on the left eye – causing swelling – and grabbed her bag.

He made off towards Tollcross with the bag, which contained a small amount of cash.

A man who chased after the suspect managed to recover some of the victim's belongings, but police are keen to trace the bag, which is brown with Top Shop written across it.

A spokesman said: "We would like to trace the male who returned the property, the woman who gave the suspect a light and any other witnesses to the incident as the walkway was very busy."

The suspect is described as white, 6ft, mid to late-20s, medium build, short cropped fair or perhaps ginger hair, pale complexion with freckles, wearing a navy blue fleece, and blue jeans. He spoke with an Eastern European accent.

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