A British couple have been left shaken following an alleged unprovoked attack while on holiday in Benidorm.
Mark and Caz Atkinson said they have been visiting the resort since 1989, when they were aged just 19, adding that it was ‘truly our happy place.’
However, last week, they said they suffered a brutal attack while walking back to their hotel.
Caz said: ‘Unfortunately we got mugged walking back to our hotel last Tuesday night… we never thought this would happen to us.
‘We had just walked past two lads and the next thing we knew we were pushed to the ground after my hubby had been hit on the back of his head.
‘They whipped his wallet out of his pocket, it all happened so fast.’
Speaking to the Spanish Eye, Caz said: ‘Since 2011 we have been at least twice a year, although we initially visited Benidorm in 1989.
‘Parts of the strip are becoming more aggressive when walking past and you are constantly being asked if you want some ‘Charlie’ (cocaine).
‘I can never recall prostitutes preying on drunk, vulnerable men back in 2011 and it all felt much safer back then.
‘We are now seriously giving it one more chance to see if anything positive is done to reduce these crimes and thereafter we are thinking of going to Budapest.’
She added that from what she has seen online, it seems ‘there are many people who are actually done with Benidorm now and vow to never return.’
One such visitor is Clive Cowen, who responded to an online post by Caz, writing: ‘I’ve been going since the mid 80s, I was there three weeks ago and we’ve decided sadly that it will be our last visit as the place is that bad now!
‘There are beggars constantly shaking cups in your face, cocaine and pill dealers constantly pestering, got to have your head on a swivel at all times and was glad to get out of there.
‘I can’t understand why they have let it get so bad, it’s such a shame.’
John Storer said he and his wife are ‘sick of looking over our shoulders.’
He said: ‘We went three times this year… got offered drugs more this year than the 20 years before.
‘Me and the wife have said we’ve had enough of ”looking over our shoulders” and ”keeping our wits about us” … we love the place but for me it’s getting too rough, I go to enjoy myself, not stress.’
It follows a series of violent incidents in Benidorm this year that caught international headlines.
One British mother told the Spanish Eye that she was beaten up by a bouncer inside a venue on the strip, before being kicked repeatedly while curled up on the dancefloor.
Over the summer, new footage emerged of tourists being targeted in the infamous ‘muggers alley’.
In a short clip shared online, a woman can be seen talking to a man as he attempts to walk back to his hotel.
Four other women are then seen running across the street to join in on her harassment campaign.
The women repeatedly touch the men without their consent, forcing them to push the strangers away.
But they do not give up, as they continue trying to distract their targets, even holding on to them and stopping them outside the entrance to their hotel.
At one moment, four of the women are seen forming a circle around one elderly men before he is forced to push through them.
The Policia Nacional previously told the Spanish Eye that it has received multiple reports from victims and has ‘intervened and arrested the perpetrators several times.’
It added: ‘As a preventative measure, continuous patrols are carried out in this area, as well as throughout the rest of the town, to prevent the commission of this crime.’
It then listed several key bits of advice for tourists coming to Benidorm.
The force said: ‘Always keep an eye on your personal belongings, especially in crowded areas.
‘Do NOT keep cell phones or wallets in back pockets or easily accessible areas. Be wary of strangers who approach you with vague excuses or exaggerated gestures.
‘In the event of a robbery, do not confront the offender directly and notify the police immediately.
‘Write down the IMEI (serial) number of your device to facilitate its recovery in case of theft.’
