The only thing 81-year-old Mary Rivas wanted to do was kick the thug robbing and beating her at an ATM machine in the gonads.

“I wanted to put my knee in his 100s. You know where I mean,” the feisty senior said Thursday evening while recovering from her attack at her son’s home in Aurora.

On Wednesday, police released video which appears to show a man robbing, thrashing and throwing Rivas to the ground as she was withdrawing cash at an Aurora bank machine, in an effort to identify the suspect from the early evening attack on Monday.

Terrance Rocks, 35, of Sudbury, was arrested on Wednesday and has been charged with robbery, which includes the assault that occurred during the attack.

“I feel like I was run over by a train. I’m aching everywhere,” said Rivas, who was treated and released from hospital.

“It’s not easy to put me down, but I have a purple chin, cheek and neck.”

She had just left the doctor’s office prior to going to the bank.

“I had been given a clean bill of health,” she said.

“I didn’t have to be home right away and went to the bank.”

Rivas had just taken out “not an insignificant amount of money” when the alleged robber made a move to grab her cash inside the Bank of Montreal at Yonge and Wellington Sts. in Aurora.

“I always watch out around me, but no one was in the bank when I went in. Then somebody else came in but it sounded like they were using the machine beside me. When my money came out I knew just then he was going to take my money,” Rivas said.

“I had my head down to get my card and money, and just then I saw a toe come over. I used to take ballet and knew it wasn’t right.”

Rivas said she grabbed her card and money in her left hand away from the thug on her right.

“He didn’t know that I was faster than him. But then he had me by both hands. Let me tell you it was hurting me because my bank card was cutting into my hand. But I wouldn’t let him know he hurt me,” she said.

“I didn’t think I could hold on that long because he wasn’t a skinny little runt. I had a one-track mind to make sure the video behind me got a picture of him.”

Tips from the public lead to an arrest at an Aurora residence.

“A friend turned him in, so all humanity isn’t bad,” she said.

Rivas wants her attacker to pay a stiff price.

“I knew he just wanted my money. Still, I would like to see him do hard time. Maybe he has done this before. I’d like other guys like him to know this type of crime is getting tougher to get away with,” Rivas said.

This brave lady was worried the suspect would prey on someone else, York Regional Police Const. Laura Nicolle said Thursday after the arrest.

“She is so cute. The cutest picture-perfect grandma ever,” Nicolle said.

A senior role model, added York police Chief Eric Jolliffe.

“I am inspired by the strength and determination of this 81-year-old woman who experienced such a traumatic event but remained so calm and focused,” Jolliffe said.

“The entire police service and the community is behind her and through this teamwork, the man responsible can be held accountable for his actions.”

Rocks will be back in Newmarket court on Tuesday.

kconnor@postmedia.com