Teacher hurt in attack by girls

A TEACHER had her nose broken and car stolen in a savage attack by four girls in the Pimlico TAFE carpark.

The 57- year- old female teacher was headed to her car about 5.15pm on Wednesday, after finishing her lectures, when she was assaulted by the girls, who then stole her car.

The car was taken on a wild joy ride around Townsville before crashing into a parked car in Vincent. The girls left the scene on foot and had not been caught late yesterday.

President of the Queensland Teachers Union ( TAFE) Townsville Murray Holm said it was shocking that a lecturer could be assaulted trying to go home after a day at work.

“It’s not good enough ... you shouldn’t have to worry about walking to your car in broad daylight but it appears that’s the circumstances now,” Mr Holm said.

“TAFE is a safe place. If it isn’t that means Pimlico is an unsafe place and so is the high school. “Where does it stop?” Acting officer in charge of the Child Protection Investigation Unit Detective Senior Ser- geant Ben Hunter said police were trying to track the movements of the vehicle after it was stolen.

“Our understanding is that there was incident that occurred in Pimlico where a female sustained some injuries and as a result her vehicle was stolen,” Sen- Sgt Hunter said.

“We are still investigating where the vehicle has travelled after it was stolen.’’

Northern Region Acting Commissioner Paul Taylor said it was worrying to see a spate of car thefts around Townsville, especially when violence was used.

“It’s extremely concerning, particularly with the age of the victim,” Mr Taylor said.

“I think the community as a whole would be utterly disgusted with the actions of the young people involved, I know I certainly am.”

TAFE Queensland North general manager Joann Pyne said the TAFE community was “shocked and deeply saddened by this unprovoked attack”.

“Our priority is to support the staff member, their family, and the TAFE Queensland North community,” she said.

A 16- year- old girl has been charged with armed robbery, two counts of unlawful use of a car, driving without a licence, failure to stop and dangerous operation of a car.