Melissa Mistry, 17, was sat in her red Fiat Punto waiting in a queue of traffic in Wood Street at around 4.30pm on Monday when she noticed in her wing mirror a man walking towards her.

The stranger approached Melissa, who had her car window open, and said "I want your car. Give me your car. I've got a knife and if you don't get out I'm going to kill you".

Melissa, of Welton Place, Hillmorton, said: "I just thought 'oh my god'.
"I was screaming and papping my horn.

"He lifted the lock and opened the door and I saw the knife in his hand.

"As soon as I saw that I thought 'I've got to get out of here'.

"I took my seat belt off and got out. My legs were shaking."

The man got into Melissa's car, which is only worth around £650, and drove off at high speed, narrowly missing other vehicles as he raced off, turning right into Newbold Road.

Melissa was left in the middle of Wood Street with no car and none of her personal belongings, that had been in her bag inside the Punto, including cash, her mobile phone, house keys and bank cards.

Melissa, who has just finished her A-levels at Rugby High School, said: "I've no idea why he picked on me.

"I guess I was an easy target because I'm young and vulnerable."

A female taxi driver and another woman on a bike both stopped to help Melissa but no one in any of the three cars behind her, who would have witnessed the incident, took any action.

Melissa said: "The men in the cars behind me did nothing. I was screaming and none of them did anything to help.

"I'd like to thank the ladies that helped me very much."

Police are now hunting for the man who is described as white, medium
build, aged between 25 and 35, with short fair hair wearing a t-shirt with a cream and brown print.

Melissa added: "It makes you think this could happen to anyone. It's made me really anxious and nervous to go out on my own.

"I'm just so shocked this could happen in broad daylight in Rugby."

Witnesses can call police on (01926) 415000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.