THE VICTIM of a botched knife-point robbery knocked his attacker off of a pushbike and fled, it has emerged.

Police said the 29-year-old man was walking along Adams Way in Earley shortly before 9am on Thursday when he was approached by a thug on a mountain bike.

The cyclist, who was wearing a black hooded top with the hood up, ordered the victim to hand over his mobile phone and money.

However, the quick-thinking man knocked the bungling offender off his pushbike and escaped unharmed.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “The victim, a 29-year-old man, was walking along Adams Way when he was approached by a man on a black mountain bike who demanded he hand over his mobile phone and money.

“The victim refused and the offender then pulled out a grey Stanley knife. The victim managed to push the man off his bike and he ran to safety.

“The victim was not injured during the incident.

“The offender is black, approximately 5ft 8ins and had a slim build. He was wearing a black hooded top with the hood up, grey tracksuit trousers, and a black baseball cap. His bike had a black plastic chain lock around the handle bars.”

Officers investigating the case believe a learner driver car was nearby and said the occupants could hold vital information into the case.

Anyone with information should contact the police on 101.

Designated Case investigator Claire Morgan, of the Investigation Hub based at Loddon Valley, said: "I would like to speak to anyone who saw the attempted robbery or who has any information which could help our investigation.

“The victim mentioned that he saw a learner driver car in Adams Way at the time of the incident so I would like to appeal to those in this vehicle to come forward.

"It happened at a time when the area was busy with vehicles so I would ask anyone who was driving in the area between 8.45am and 9.15am to check their dash-cam footage to see whether they have captured the offender riding his bike or anything else significant."