Essex: Police appeal for information after disabled woman assaulted (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Essex: Police appeal for information after disabled woman assaulted

10:26am Wednesday 1st August 2012 in Local News

Police are appealing for information after a woman using a mobility scooter was assaulted and verbally abused in Chelmsford.

The woman, from Chelmsford, was riding her scooter along Duke Street towards Chelmsford railway station on Monday, July 23, between 6.30pm and 7pm.

She was approached by a large group of both male and female youths, who verbally abused, kicked and punched her, before running off towards the train station.

The youths are believed to have been aged between 16 and 18-years-old.

The incident is being treated as a disability hate crime.

Hate crime officer Pc Ann-Marie Pitcher said: "Hate crime is treated very seriously and this is a shocking incident.

"It appears that the woman has been targeted because she uses a mobility scooter.

“We are appealing for witnesses who may have been in the area at the time of the incident and also to a man who stopped to assist the woman.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Pitcher or investigating officer Pc Mark Smith at Chelmsford police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.