Surgery for woman after 'appalling' assault

The woman and a friend were attacked by a man in a six-strong group after a disagreement near a taxi rank in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.

One of the women was knocked to the ground by the man and her 22-year-old friend was assaulted when she tried to stop the attack at around 3am yesterday in West Clyde Street.

Another man from the group took the 25-year-old woman's handbag as she lay on the ground before joining his friends in a taxi.

Detective Constable Iain Lobban, of Strathclyde Police's Dumbarton CID, said: "Officers working on this case, including myself, have never seen this level of violence towards women, leaving one requiring extensive facial surgery.

"Regardless of what may or may not have been said to the men involved in the moments before this appalling assault what happened to these two young victims is absolutely unacceptable.

"For another one of this group to then return to the women and not help them in any way, but steal from them, is absolutely disgusting."

He continued: "I would say to the other men who were with these two to ask themselves if really want to be associated with people who would treat women like this and appeal to them to come forward and identify them.

"I would like to reassure the public that officers are carrying out extensive enquires, including checking CCTV in order to identify this group and the two suspects.

"I am keen to speak to anyone who was at or near to the taxi rank at around 3am on Sunday to come forward.

"In particular, I would like to speak to a young man who was wearing a grey-hooded sweatshirt and denims who was seen at the taxi rank at the time as he may have seen or heard something that can help our inquiry."

The two victims were taken home by a taxi before they called an ambulance which took them to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

They were treated for their injuries and then released.

The suspect who assaulted the two women is described as white, Scottish, between 6ft 3ins and 6ft 5ins, and wearing a brown or burgundy shirt, black trousers and black shoes.

The suspect who stole the bag is described as white, Scottish, around 5ft 8ins, with a heavy build and dark hair. He was wearing a black jacket with a white shirt or t-shirt underneath and denim jeans.