A SCOTS TV star had £8,500 of charity donations stolen from her when she was attacked on her way home.
Kate Copstick, 66, was set upon by muggers last night while she was making her way home from the charity shop she runs in London.
Two men in balaclavas grabbed the actress and put her in a chokehold before kicking the back of her legs when she screamed out.
As she fell to the ground, the man ripped open her backpack and grabbed the envelope of cash and ran – leaving her phone and purse on the floor.
Kate, originally from Glasgow, said she was left terrified by the attack, adding that she thought they were going to kill her.
She said: “I was walking home, it wasn’t very late and the street I live on is very well lit, I heard running behind me and turned to see the kind of outfit you only normally see in TV dramas – someone dressed head-to-toe in black, with a full face balaclava.
“He grabbed for my bag and I began to scream and shout for help, he put me in a chokehold and suddenly a second man – dressed exactly the same – appeared. I thought they were going to kill me.
“They kicked me to the ground, took the money and ran. I live in a not-posh area of Shepherd’s Bush – there is crime, there are muggings, but it’s generally kids looking to steal a few quid – not full-grown men essentially dressed like ninjas.
“They didn’t take anything else, which sadly means I was very likely targeted, and that someone knew I would be carrying a significant amount of charity cash with me.
“I’m talking to the police about that now.”
The money that was stolen was due to be allocated to help a group of women escape from a situation where they would be forced to undergo FGM.
The practice has been illegal in Kenya since 2011 but is still carried out in many areas.
The attack came just days before Kate, who is also a director and producer, was set to travel to Kenya to provide funds to help a group of women fleeing female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and extreme violence.
Her charity Mama Biashara works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya.
The charity provides grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security, they offer training and employment in everything from phone repairs to manicures.
They have built a children’s home, which they still support. They’ve created water-harvesting solutions for drought-devastated areas.
Kate, famous for her role on BBC children’s show On the Waterfront, set up the charity in 2008.
She was taking the money in cash after having ongoing issues with accessing money from a UK Bank whilst in Kenya.
She found that it was better to travel with an allocation of cash to avoid getting stuck whilst waiting for erroneous holds on the account to be lifted – which means that the vital and urgent work could be carried out.
Around 400 rescues of this kind were done by Mama Biashara in August of this year alone, and a similar number was planned for September.
“The work we do saves lives, and saves people from a life of misery.
“We have women and girls in hiding, waiting to be rescued, if we can’t raise the money fast, they are in significant danger of being found and returned to the people who will hurt them.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Copstick replace the vital funds she needs to take to Kenya.
Anyone wishing to donate to the fundraiser can do so here.
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