Woman left requiring face surgery after attack

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman will have to undergo surgery after she was left with serious face injuries following an "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 on Sunday 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.

"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 said officers were carrying out extensive enquiries, including checking CCTV, to identify those responsible. He added: "I am keen to speak to anyone who was at or near to the taxi rank at around 3am on Sunday."

The two victims were taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where they were treated for their injuries and then discharged.

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.