A knife-wielding robber stabbed a woman in the stomach before he stole her purse on Sunday.

The man lashed out at the 33-year-old woman in an unprovoked attack as she walked near the junction of Wrythe Lane and Brookfield Avenue.

The woman had just left home to do some shopping when the man approached her at 1.15pm, stabbed her in the stomach and stole her purse.

She then struggled back to Erskine Road to raise the alarm and was later flown to hospital by the helicopter emergency medical service after it landed in The Wrythe Recreation Ground.

A police spokesman said her injury was not believed to be life threatening.

The suspect made off down Brookfield Avenue from where he could have gone into Wrythe Rec or into any of the adjoining streets.

Officers later cordoned off the street, made a thorough search of the area and began house-to-house enquiries.

The spokesman said: “Incidents like this are extremely rare in Sutton and we are determined to catch the man responsible.’’ The suspect was white, aged 30-year-old approx, of slim build. He was bald, had a small goatee beard and a silver dagger earring and was dressed in a white hooded top.

Witnesses to the incident or anyone who saw a man matching this description in the area on Sunday between 1pm and 2pm, should call Detective Sergeant David Willis at Sutton CID on: 020 8649 0747 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.