A WOMAN who was “throttled” by a stranger after she said he shouldn’t be riding his bike along a footpath says she has been left shaken by the attack.

The victim, who has asked not to be named by the Daily Echo, was walking her dog in Church Road, Ferndown on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 4 when she was assaulted.

As reported in the Echo, Jonathan Ritchie, of Tamar Close in Ferndown, admitted assault by beating in connection with the incident.

The 34-year-old, who also pleaded guilty to a separate count of drink driving, subjected his victim to a “very frightening and distressing” attack, magistrates said.

The woman, who is 74 and walks with a stick, said: “I was just walking my dog along the pavement when the cyclist came along behind me and started ringing his bell to get me to move out of the way.

“I had my stick in one hand and I was holding my little dog’s lead in the other, and there was nowhere for me to easily move.

“He eventually went past me and, as he did, he said something which I didn’t catch.

“I said to him, ‘You’re not supposed to be on the pavement on a bike anyway’.

“He went a little farther along and then suddenly he threw down his bike and came back towards me.”

The victim told police the cyclist pushed her backwards and grabbed her by the throat.

Two women who were passing by then rushed to her aid. One took the victim and her dog home, while the second chased Ritchie to KFC in Ringwood Road, where she took a photograph of him on her phone to share with police.

The victim said: “The whole thing terrified me. I’m still not over it.

“I’m wary every time I go through the door now. It’s left me a nervous wreck.

“But I have to take the dog out, so I’ve got no choice but to face it.”

Calling her attacker a “complete moron”, the woman said: “I was so shaken I didn’t know if I should call the police or if I was overreacting.

“A man I’ve never met before grabbed me around the throat and squeezed.”

Ritchie was sentenced to 28 days in prison suspended for 12 months. He must comply with a rehabilitation activity requirement and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation to the victim.

PC Austin Kinnane, of East Dorset police, said the “nasty assault” was committed against a woman who was “simply taking her dog for a walk.”