Teenager tells of brutal bashing as motorists just drove past

THE teenage victim of a vicious assault in North Ward has spoken about the brutal beating she received at the hands of a stranger.

Punched numerous times in the face and then kicked while on the ground, the teenager could not fathom why she was targeted in the random assault on Friday night as motorists drove past. Sporting a massive black eye and facial swelling, the 17- year- old, who did not want to be named out of fear of reprisal, had been out celebrating her birthday.

She said she and four friends had been out to dinner along The Strand and stopped at Juliette’s for some ice cream before walking to a friend’s place about 10.30pm.

“One of my friends lives a street back from there, so we decided to walk her home so my other friend’s mum could drop the rest of us off,” she said.

“My three friends and I left her and we could see where one of my other friends lived from there. The street was really brightly lit, it wasn’t far, so we thought we could just walk there.”

The teenager said two people who were sitting at the corner of Cook St started following her group.

“We didn’t think they would do anything because of how light it was,” she said.

“We crossed the road, so we were on the opposite side of the road. My friend looked back and saw there was a girl following us. A friend thought she heard a blade drop and she said, ‘ I think she’s got a knife, run’. My friends started running and I was a step behind them and I turned around to look back and she punched me in the face.”

She said she offered up her possessions in an attempt to stop the person bashing her.

“She just kept punching me. She punched me down to the ground and she kicked me a couple of times in the face. It’s all a blur.

“I had a big red handbag with me; she didn’t seem interested in it at all and the guy who was behind her didn’t look at it either.

“I remember asking her if she wants money, that I could get her money and she just laughed. I was screaming out to call the cops. She eventually did grab my bag, but she just kept punching me … she stopped for a second and I got to my feet and sprinted across the road and she threw my bag over the road after me.

“They just left my bag and walked away … they walked back for it ... and walked off.”

The teen said she was now fearful of what could happen, after they stole her house keys and driver’s licence.

“I think I’ll be able to move past it, but now I’m very cautious about random people in the streets. The worst thing for me was that so many people drove past while it was happening and no one stopped.

“Is that how people treat each other here?

“I feel like if someone had pulled over, they would have got scared and run off.”

If you have any information that could assist police, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.