A commuter who was nearly pushed from his cycle has slammed Police for being slow to investigate the incident after they told him such an attacker was operating in the area.

Pierre Robillard was riding east along North Shore Road, Devonshire, around 10 a.m. on August 29 when another biker reached over and grabbed and shoved him.

Mr. Robillard got a good look at his attacker and saw him entering a building site by a warehouse, but found Police were uninterested in his story at first - despite the mystery death of Scottish expatriate Scott Davidson on the same road and the same parish just days earlier.

Mr. Davidson, 31, was found dead on North Shore Road, Devonshire in the early hours of August 25. Results of the autopsy have yet to be released.

A Police spokesman said of the death: "There is nothing to suggest at this point that it was the result of foul play as far as pushing someone off his bike. I am not ruling it out, but it's not a line of inquiry we are following."

Reliving his own brush with death, Mr. Robillard, a 50-year-old Canadian, said: "He got beside me, I didn't see him coming, and he grabbed my arm and tried to push me off.

"I tightly held on to the handlebars. It happened in a split second. He turned round and looked at me and then sped away. I had a very clear view of his face for about three or four seconds."

Dressed casually and riding a rented motorbike, Mr. Robillard said he looked more like a tourist than a rich businessman.

"I have no idea what he was after. There was nothing in the basket - I didn't have a computer. His bike was a lot faster than mine and I wasn't going to chase him."

However, Mr. Robillard, a computer analyst, continued to his business meeting and saw the attacker, who had been slowed by a roundabout and traffic, go inside a building which was being renovated about two miles further along the road.

"He didn't see I was following. It was probably where he works. I know I could recognise his face."

However, he said Police had little interest in his story although he admitted he waited a day before going in to report the incident.

Asked about the delay he said: "I didn't know what to do. I had to talk to my business partner."

He then went to Hamilton Police station to report the incident.

He said: "The first officer said we know someone is trying to do that kind of thing in that area but unless I could name the area,and the road there was nothing they could do.

"I didn't know the names of the parish or the road - I have only been here one month."

Mr. Robillard was told to drive back to the area and return with the information.

He did so the following day but found Police were even less interested than before.

"There was another officer who said because I didn't have a plate number they couldn't do anything."

"But the bike could belong to his grandmother. It's more important that I know his face and I think I know where he works. I had to argue for half an hour. The first officer had told me there's someone doing that kind of thing."

Mr. Robillard added: "The Police should have come with me - there were about ten to 15 officers in there.

"If I could identify the guy then it's up to them to do what they have to do, but if not then tough luck on me."

"Don't wait until somebody is killed. This guy is trying to get people off the road to do something.

"They shouldn't wait until they find a body on the road, it's obvious.

"There was a Scottish guy that died in that area.

"I mentioned this when the second officer took the details and said that he should be a little bit more interested.

Mr. Robillard said the attacker was dark-skinned, of medium build, with a beard and was about 25 years old.

He wore a brown helmet.

The victim said he now tried to avoid the area while the attack still preyed on his mind.

He said: "When I am riding I am looking more in my mirror than the road.

"It isn't a nice feeling when you are on a beautiful island, you have started a new job and are excited, then a thing like this happens.

"It doesn't leave you with a good taste plus the Police don't want to do anything.

"There's not too much Police investigation going on here."

However Mr. Robillard said detectives were now onto the case after he had first contacted The Royal Gazette.

This was confirmed by a Police spokesman who added: "It was unfortunate that, at that particular time, there were no officers available to accompany the complainant as he wished, but those details that were available were taken from him.

"Unfortunately the initial report was lacking some very basic information, that the Police needed to properly investigate the complaint, which we understand may have resulted from his being rather new to the Island.

"This was communicated to Mr. Robillard and he later returned to provide that information, since which Police have been able to begin an official investigation. We want to assure the public that this matter is in the process of being addressed."

The spokesman said the incident was unusual, explaining: "We normally come across incidents where someone tries to grab a bag while riding past, but we have not had riders trying to push people off cycles."