Adel Mouden reports on an unprovoked attack in Plaistow.
A 16-year-old female student was walking down Plaistow High Street towards Newham College when she was knocked out cold by a vicious blow to the back of her head.
CCTV footage shows her minding her own business until a young black male runs up behind her and swings a ferocious punch, felling her to the ground. The victim only regained consciousness in the ambulance on the way to Newham General Hospital. Although admitted to hospital suffering from bruising and concussion, she was released later the same day.
The victim, who prefers not to be named, later explained that she became aware of someone following her when she realised she had forgotten her phone and went back home to pick it up. But none of her belongings was stolen, and Detective Superintendent Helen Millichap, a senior officer based in Newham, was unable to account for this seemingly motiveless attack. DS Millichap described the attack as ‘very rare – especially in broad daylight’.