A pregnant woman was dragged along the ground with her handbag strap around her neck and left with a broken leg in a ‘harrowing’ attack in Moston.
The victim, who is four months pregnant, had just left a newsagents on Hodge Street and was getting into her car when she was grabbed from behind and threw to the floor at about 12.40pm on Jarnuary 17.
The man, who is said to have a distinctive scar on the left side of his face, attempted to snatch the woman’s bag and then unsuccessfully tried to get into the vehicle before fleeing the scene empty handed.
In a statement, the victim said: “The whole incident seemed to last a long time but in reality would only have been about five minutes. He was very close to me when he was grabbing and shaking me and standing right in front of me.
“When it was happening I was very concerned about the safety of my unborn baby and for myself. It was quite terrifying when he was grabbing and shaking me. I didn’t know what he was going to do or what he wanted as I couldn’t understand him.
APPEAL: The offender wore a black zip-up hooded top with white strings and light blue jeans
“I feel in shock and very anxious about it. It is going to change my behaviour and going about Moston when I’m by myself or with my children. It’s even more worrying that it happened during daylight hours.”
After failing to steal the car, he then grabbed the woman again and begun shaking her, shouting loudly in her face although she could not understand what he was saying as he did not speak English.
The offender is described as being black, 5ft 10in tall, of a stocky build and with a round face. He was clean shaven and wore a black zip-up hooded top with white strings and light blue jeans.
Officers have now issued an evofit of her attacker and are asking anyone who recognises this man to call police.
Detective Constable Saj Sardar said: “The victim impact statement this woman has written describes just how harrowing her ordeal was. Her only thought was to protect her unborn baby and she was naturally terrified something would happen to injure her and her unborn child.
“Thankfully, though this is purely by luck, it does not appear the unborn baby has been harmed but that does not detract from just how frightened this young woman was.
“Despite her trauma, she has been brave enough to work with our forensic imaging specialists and has produced an excellent likeness of the offender, who had a distinctive scar on his face.”
He added: “I would urge people to look closely at this image and if you recognise this man or you witnessed what happened, then please call us immediately.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Main image courtesy of Google Maps, with thanks.
