Paul Whitehouse was the victim of an attempted mugging in Islington, London, while fetching medicine for his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir. The 68-year-old television star was targeted at a cashpoint on Essex Road, beside a Sainsbury's Local, after his wife had a "bad reaction" to some treatment.
Incident on Essex Road
Dr Conkbayir, who married Whitehouse in 2019, posted on Instagram about the incident. She wrote: "Well, a horrid start to the weekend would be an understatement. Yesterday, I had a bad reaction to some treatment, which has left me feeling rather rotten. So last night, Paul dashed out to get me some meds. He was mugged on Essex Road (Islington) at the cashpoint beside the Sainsbury's Local."
She added: "He did fight back and retrieved his card, with the perp scuttling away empty-handed. But that's not the point, is it? I kept shtum, out of respect, but he just came over, having taken our daughter to football, still frustrated. I asked whether he'd like me to post - he said yes - in the hope that it might help folk to be more aware when out and about."
Public response and support
Dr Conkbayir also urged people to be vigilant, writing: "So please, everyone - I don't mean to patronise, but please be super vigilant out there." Whitehouse received numerous messages of support, with one person commenting: "Oh my, well done for fighting back - such a shock to the system. Take care." Another remarked: "Sorry to hear this, that's horrible. Wishing you both all the best." A third wrote: "Hope Paul's okay? Send him my regards and thoughts with you both, hope you're feeling better."
Police report under consideration
Responding to a commenter, Dr Conkbayir gave an update on Whitehouse's condition, writing: "He's just p****d off. Nobody helped. Still, he's okay. We just wanted to make folk aware." She revealed that Whitehouse is "considering" reporting the incident to the police, adding: "It happened to me a couple of years ago. Not one person helped, even when I asked. It wasn't even 10am!"
