THIS is the spot where three teenage brutes punched and kicked a woman in an alleyway – all for the sake of snatching her bags of groceries.

The 43-year-old victim has been left traumatised by the robbery near Ashurst Drive in Blackbrook, close to the Co-op store.

It happened just seconds after she got off the number 320 bus after doing her evening shopping at Morrisons and Wilkinsons.

They followed her into the alley where they punched her in the face and kicked her. She was knocked to the ground before they ran off with her handbag and bags of shopping.

News of the attack – which featured on the Star’s website this week – has sickened readers, who flooded social media with angry messages.

Detective Constable Steven O’Neill, from St Helens CID, said: “These three young men launched a violent attack on the victim, just to steal a few items of shopping.

“Her ordeal has understandably left her very distressed and I want to reassure people in St Helens that we are carrying out a thorough investigation in a bid to trace and arrest the people responsible.

“The offenders are described as white, in their late teens, wearing dark clothing possible with some white on them.

“It’s thought that they may have been outside some shops on Blackbrook Road before the incident happened and I would appeal to anyone who may have seen them to get in touch with us.”

The attack happened at around 10pm on Sunday, January 19. Police issued the appeal for witnesses.

Anyone with information can call St Helens CID on 0151 777 6829 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.