Detectives are appealing for information after a mother with a toddler in a pushchair was stabbed in an attempted robbery.

A nursery worker, locally named as Christel Stainfield-Bruce, was stabbed last Friday in Islington, north London, after a teenager approached her asking for directions.

The attacker asked the mother-of-three for her mobile phone as her son lay sleeping in his pushchair. When she refused, he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the back of her leg before fleeing.

DS Adrian Brown from Islington CID said: “We are knocking on doors and reviewing local CCTV footage but need the public’s help. The suspect is described as black male, 5ft 3ins, of large build and was wearing dark coloured clothing, including a jacket and a ‘trucker’ style cap at the time of the attack.

“Did you see him hanging around the area? Perhaps you noticed him making off? Equally, if you have information about who could have been involved, please call the police. He did not hesitate to use a weapon against a mother with a child. We need to find him and bring him in for questioning.”

Additional patrols are taking place in the area where the incident took place.

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information is asked to call West Area Command on 101 quoting CAD6063/07JUN, Tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police officers responding to reports of the stabbing on Caedmon Road, Islington, attended the scene with the London Ambulance Service.

Stainfield-Bruce, thought to be in her 30s, was taken to a central London hospital where her injuries were treated. They were not life threatening and she has now been discharged.

She told the Evening Standard: “I think I’m still in quite a lot of shock and I’m waking up for the first time worried about leaving the house.”

“I would like to see him caught and I would like to see him punished, but I want to see some rehabilitation for him. 

“I want to know what made him do this.”