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A volunteer police officer has described how he was attacked when he tried to stop a woman being pickpocketed in central London.

Ned Donovan, who is a grandson of famed author Roald Dahl and volunteers as a special constable in the capital, posted on social media how he had grabbed a man after seeing a theft on Westminster Bridge at about 14:00 BST on Monday.

However, he said he was then set upon by "several of his accomplices" who "began to punch me, kick me and choke me to get me to release their friend".

The Met Police said no arrests had been made following the attack and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Donovan wrote on X: "Walking across Westminster Bridge yesterday, I saw a man in the act of pickpocketing a female tourist. I grabbed him and stopped him before he could disappear.

"Unfortunately, several of his accomplices appeared and began to punch me, kick me and choke me to get me to release their friend, which I wasn’t going to let happen.

"One up and coming black eye, bloody nose, marks on the neck, a scratched eye socket and cuts from him biting my wrist later, I’m recovering and very grateful to."

A special constable is a volunteer position helping ensure public safety.

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