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A devastated dog owner says she is too frightened to leave her house after her puppy was snatched at knifepoint this morning.

Cornwall Live reported earlier today how a six-month-old labradoodle called Waffle was taken while being walked by his female owner in the Belmont Road area of St Austell at around 7am.

A male approached the owner and threatened her with what she believed was a knife.

The suspect is described as being around 5ft 8in tall, was wearing a black, hooded top and scarf and spoke with a foreign accent.

Officers have been checking local CCTV and making enquiries into the theft of Waffle.

Now, Waffle’s distraught owner Catherine Hussain has spoken to Cornwall Live about the effect of the crime.

She said: “I don’t really know how I’m feeling right now. One minute I’m in control and the next I’m scared to death. I’m a 54-year-old woman and am scared to go outside.

“My usual routine is that I take Waffle out at 7, 7:15am Monday to Friday when I have to work.

“I’ve also got two house cats. Our bins are under the house so I went down to put the litter tray in the bins and I kind of knew someone was around.

“Waffle started wagging his tail and patting hit feet on the floor and then I heard someone say ‘f*cking dog’. At first I thought it was someone I knew messing around so I did an about turn.

“I saw the man with a scarf or snood over his face and he repeated again gesturing for Waffle to go towards him.

“He had a foreign accent and I said ‘f*ck off dickhead’ but he took his left hand out of his pocket and I heard a spring noise, probably a flick knife.

“He gestured again and pointed the knife at me and I just froze. I can’t remember if he snatched Waffle or I handed him over but if I handed him over I feel awful.”

Catherine believes the man then legged it through the estate. The estate is one way in and one way out for traffic but she says there are plenty of alleyways for the culprit to have weaved his way in and out of before making his escape.

Catherine described how the man could “could have gone anywhere”.

She then confided in a neighbour before her daughter alerted the police.

Catherine, originally from Lancashire, said: “I’ve been here (in Cornwall) 11 years and you just don’t expect anything like this to happen to you.

“I have no idea if the person was just there at the time or if someone has been watching me, clocking what time I go out and stuff. It’s terrifying.

“It beggars belief what goes through people’s heads and Waffle is just so playful. He wants to make friends with everyone he sees.”

Police Sergeant Steve White said: “The family of Waffle are very distraught and upset at the callous theft of their pet dog.

“Myself and all of the officers at the police station dealing with this crime also feel very sad for the family over what is a cruel and mean-spirited crime, especially during the Christmas period.

“I am sure that someone, somewhere knows of a friend, relative or neighbour that has suddenly come into possession of a dog that may be Waffle.

“Please contact us if you have any suspicions, as Waffle should be with his real family this Christmas.”

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, or email 101@dc.police.uk, quoting log number 0116 231219.

Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org