Teens break victim's jaw in attempted Meadows robbery

Published on Monday 28 April 2008 13:38

A WOMAN was attacked with a piece of wood in a robbery in the Meadows by two teenagers who struck again 30 minutes later.

The second assault left a man nursing a fractured jaw after he was struck in the face with the makeshift weapon.

The 20-year-old female victim was walking with a friend along Middle Meadow Walk at around 2am on Saturday when the pair, a youth aged 17-18 and a girl aged 16-17, approached them.

The teen assaulted her with the wood while the girl demanded her handbag, which was handed over.

Although the victim suffered minor injuries, she did not require hospital treatment.

About half an hour later, three men and a woman were making their way down the same pathway when the robbers appeared again.

Again the teenager was carrying a piece of wood and struck a 20-year-old man in the face. He then hit another 20-year-old man on the back and shoulder while his female companion demanded money.

The victims were able to run off before anything was stolen.

One of the male victims was taken to St John's Hospital in Livingston, having suffered a fractured jaw, while the other was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and later released after treatment for a shoulder injury.

In both cases the suspects are of similar description, and police are treating the incidents as being linked.

The male was described as white, 17 to 18 years-old, about 5ft 10in tall, with sandy brown hair, wearing a navy blue hooded top.

The girl was white, between 16 and 17 years old, 5ft 5in to 5ft 9in tall, thin build, with light-coloured hair pulled back in a ponytail, and wearing a grey tracksuit.

It is believed a large group of youths were in the Meadows area at the time, and may know who was responsible.

A police spokeswoman said: "Two members of the public have been left seriously injured in these violent and unprovoked attacks, and one woman has been robbed.

"We are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to get in touch.

"We are particularly keen to talk to the group of youths who were in the Meadows at the time, who may recognise the description of the suspects."

The incidents were the latest in a string of attacks carried out in the Meadows over recent years.

The total reported crime in the area of Middle Meadow Walk has shot up from 68 reported incidents in 2003-4 to 166 in 2006-7.

Gangs of youths have been blamed for the majority of assaults in the area.

The city council agreed last year to improve the lighting at various sections of the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, and to install CCTV on lampposts.

Anyone with any information on the assaults should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131-311 3131, or Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800-555 111.