Stuart Reeves, 25, a nurse and paramedic at the accident and emergency department of Hillingdon Hospital, was on his way back from a resuscitation training course in London when he was attacked on Theobald Street.

He was violently pushed from behind as he knelt down to tie his shoelace.

The robber ran off with Mr Reeves' brown leather briefcase and leather jacket, and left the former Hillside School pupil lying on the pavement. His hands, knees and face were badly grazed and bruised.

But although he incurred no serious injuries, Mr Reeves, who lives in Grange Road, Letchmore Heath, was devastated by the loss of his possessions, worth an estimated £3,060.

Unbeknown to the opportunistic thief, Mr Reeves is a part-time lecturer and teaches vital resuscitation techniques. He had just returned from such a course and was carrying educational slides, textbooks and a laser pointer, which can be dangerous if used incorrectly. A £1,600 pulse meter, used to measure pulse rates and oxygen levels, was also taken.

Temporarily staying in Cranes Way, Borehamwood, Mr Reeves is caring for his widowed father who recently underwent heart surgery.

A former assistant resuscitation officer at Barnet Hospital, he said: "I was just walking back to my car from Elstree and Borehamwood Station when someone came from behind, bashed me and went running off with all my stuff. I had all the bits and pieces for teaching resuscitation in the case. It is stuff that I built up over the years from courses I've attended.

"I gave chase but he was a lot faster than me so I jumped in my car and went down to the police station."

Before catching the train, Mr Reeves had stopped at a cashpoint in Kings Cross to withdraw money for his monthly rent -- more than £500 was stolen.

Police believe he may have been followed. He said: "I had to get the extra money together. It's just one of those things, I suppose."

The briefcase also contained a Filofax, a personal mini-disc player, six mini-discs, a wallet and some credit cards.

"It has had a serious knock-on effect. Stuff that I was going to be teaching, I can no longer do. It's not really the financial side of things, but the time and effort it has taken to collect those items", said Mr Reeves.

The resuscitation courses he teaches are voluntary and Mr Reeves only gets paid expenses.

A disillusioned Mr Reeves said: "To be quite honest, at the moment I feel like saying stuff it. I can't be bothered to put myself out if all the thanks you get is to have it knocked."

A police spokesman said: "This equipment is potentially life-saving. It is of no commercial value and would not be easy to sell. We would urge that it be handed in at a police station, or at the offices of the Borehamwood Times."

The suspect is described as a 20-year-old male with dirty blond hair. He is about six ft tall and was wearing blue jeans and a navy or black sweatshirt. Readers with any information should contact the crimedesk on 0181 733 5845.

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