A STUDENT has been left shaken after being robbed at gunpoint for just £10 by a man in a balaclava.

The 20-year-old victim was walking along the Salary Brook Trail after an event at the University of Essex at about 4.15am on Saturday when she was approached by the man.

The terrifying incident took place on the same trail where student Nahid Almanea, 31, was murdered by then 15-year-old schoolboy James Fairweather in 2014.

The second year university student, who has asked to remain anonymous, had been walking home with a friend but they separated at Boundary Road.

She said: “I saw there was a guy in a grey hoody crouched down by the side of a lamp post.

“At first I thought it was just a drunk person then I saw he was wearing a balaclava. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at me. Thoughts went through my head about confronting him or if he would be angry because I didn’t have a lot of money.”

When the man asked her for money the shocked student explained she only had £10 left and was forced to show her bag to him and told to run away.

She said: “I kept turning back to see if he was following me. I could see he was walking off so I phoned the police.

“He had made his balaclava – I could see where he cut the eye holes in himself.

“I’ve never seen a gun in real life before so I wouldn’t know if it was real, but it didn’t look plastic.”

Police arrived at the student’s house in 15 minutes and sent firearms officers and a dog unit to the scene. The man is described as about 5ft 7 with a local accent.

Councillor Tim Young has described his shock at the latest incident. He said: “It’s obviously a very rare incident involving a firearm. It’s shocking it’s so near to where Nahid Almanea was murdered. I would appeal to any members of the local community to get in touch with the police.”

A University spokesman said: “The safety of our students is incredibly important to us. We would like to remind students we have a 24-hour security team at our Colchester Campus to provide support and advice, while our Students’ Union’s safety bus runs overnight to help those travelling on their own.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Danielle Markoutsis on 101 quoting incident 197 of 18/02 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.