Bashed for heirloom

‘One minute I was dancing, next he headbutted me’

A WOMAN fighting breast cancer has been left scared and devastated after she was headbutted by a stranger who is believed to have stolen her prized necklace.

Carol Ethell, 64, (right) says she was left with two black eyes and forced to undergo medical scans after she was assaulted at The Grand Hotel at Labrador on December 12.

Her white gold necklace with an emerald centre and diamonds – given to her by her late husband and valued at thousands of dollars – is suspected stolen.

Ms Ethell was earlier celebrating her darts club Christmas party at CSi-Club Southport when she met a man who suggested they continue the night at the Labrador pub, she says in a police statement seen by the Bulletin.

She told police after a few wines and “dances” they were at the table talking when the man pulled at her necklace.

“I felt my head and neck move forward as (the man) pulled. I put my hand up and said ‘don’t go there’.

“Suddenly (the man) headbutted me.”

Ms Ethell, who was in 2019 diagnosed with breast cancer, told the Bulletin she was left shocked and in pain, and more than a week on was still living in fear.

“People are saying to me ‘he’s probably targeted you’. I thought I was just having fun, dancing and having a little chat and then out of the blue he headbutts me,” she said. “I was intimated, scared, no police were called or anything so I just went down the stairs and had a little cry on the footpath and pulled myself together.”

Her necklace – a gift from her husband, who died in 2015 – is missing. “He gave me it years ago … it was a gift. It was no special occasion, we travelled a lot. He’s given me a lot of other jewellery – a lot of diamonds – and I can’t wear them anywhere. But this one was just a little piece and I never thought anyone would try to take it from me. “They were very special. “I only wear it for special occasions, Christmas parties, or when I’m going out to dinner.”

She has flagged the necklace with second-hand stores.

Police confirmed they were investigating the alleged assault and necklace theft after a report was made to officers on December 13.

“Some time between 1.30am and 2am on December 12 the woman had been socialising with a man at a hotel at Labrador when he allegedly grabbed her necklace around her neck. She attempted to stop him and he allegedly head butted her and took the necklace,” a police spokesman said.

Police investigations are ongoing.