A NURSE who rang 999 because she was scared she was being “stalked” as she walked home late at night was told by a police call operator: Get a taxi.

Police agree they told Emma Starkey to call a taxi because they were busy at the time in Worcester city centre.

But they say they called her back later and sent an officer round to her home a few hours later to check on her.

Emma, aged 23, of St John’s, said she was frightened by two “aggressive” young men following her through the streets as she walked home from Foregate Street railway station at 10.30pm on Friday night.

She says she is angry that when she phoned police, no one was sent out.

Emma, a health care assistant, said she first encountered the two in Bromyard Road.

One was aged about 20, the other about 15. They were in front of her as she walked along the road. “They were hitting out at a bush and their whole body language was aggressive, so I crossed the road,” she added.

But the two also crossed the road and started following her, making noises and taunting her.

She crossed the road several more times, and each time they followed her. She also ducked into a side road in an attempt to throw them off, but they kept pursuing her.

“They were hiding round corners and lunging out at me.”

She then stopped near the Garibaldi Inn, in Bromyard Road, and phoned her partner and the police.

“I told the police what had happened and I was hoping they would send someone out, but the woman I was talking to just said I should get a taxi. She definitely said that. I got the impression that because I said I was by the Garibaldi, she thought I had been drinking.”

While she was talking to police, the two continued to pester her.

“They enjoyed scaring me, you could tell by the way they were laughing.”

Emma eventually ran to her home, which was nearby, and she does not know if the two managed to follow her there.

“I definitely feel that they’ll do it again to someone else, and that’s why I want to warn people. I’ve been mugged before, but this was more frightening.

“If the police had turned up, they would maybe have got the idea that what they did was wrong, was unacceptable, but it didn’t happen. I was angry that no-one came out. Next time, who knows what they will do?”

The older one was wearing a grey track suit and had bluey green eyes and thick textured eyebrows. The younger one was wearing cargo shorts, a polo shirt and trainers. Both had sandy blond hair, and Emma thinks they may have been brothers.

Her partner, Robin Woodward, aged 24, a nurse, said: “I was at work in Kidderminster when this happened and I was really worried about Emma. They really should have sent someone out.”

Police confirmed that Miss Starkey’s calls had been received and that an operator had advised her to call a taxi.

Inspector Janet Heritage said: “Our officers were very busy at the time Emma called and we spoke to her again and she confirmed she had got home safely.”

She said officers will be in contact with Miss Starkey.