A woman police officer feared she had contracted anthrax when she was covered with a white powder by a would-be mugger, it has been revealed.
The 50-year-old officer was taken to Basildon Hospital as fire decontamination officers stood by in case the powder did contain anthrax spores.
Fortunately, it proved harmless.
The terrifying attack came after the woman was followed to her home in Wickford by a man in a white Vauxhall Cavalier.
As the woman parked her car in the driveway of her house, the man raced out of his vehicle and slammed her up against a wall before spraying a white powder into her face, demanded her bag then sped off.
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article