A BRAVE dog owner was stabbed in the stomach after she refused to hand her rare pooch to a weapon-wielding man.

Thames Valley Police yesterday released an e-fit image of a suspect following the "distressing" attempted robbery at Hardwick Gravel Pits.

A man walked up to his 29-year-old victim at 1.10pm on August 6 and demanded that she give him her dog, which is of a rare breed.

During a desperate bid to protect her pet the would-be robber then stabbed the woman in the abdomen, inflicting her with minor injuries.

She managed to wriggle free of the man, who fled before his victim was taken to Witney Community Hospital.

Investigating officer PC Matthew Gamble, of Witney Local Area CID, said: “This was a very distressing incident for the victim, and I would like to commend her for her bravery in coming forward and helping to produce this e-fit image.

“This incident took place in a popular dog walking location, and so I would ask anyone who thinks that they may recognise this man, or who has any information about him, to come forward.”

The force did not want to reveal the specific breed in case it identified its owner.

The man is white, pale, of a slim build and thought to be aged about 25-years-old.

He had light-coloured eyes, messy brown hair tied in a ponytail and is about five feet ten inches.

He was wearing a white t-shirt with yellow markings, light cropped trousers, grey trainers and a leather bracelet around his left wrist.

Anyone with any information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.