Mum's jaw broken in late-night attack

10:24am Thursday 8th May 2008

A WEYMOUTH mum left with a broken jaw following a vicious late night attack in Weymouth says the behaviour of drinkers in the town is 'unacceptable'.

Mother-of-three Ginnine Lagerwaard, 35, was assaulted outside the Surfside Diner in New Street in an unprovoked 3.30am attack.

Miss Lagerwaard said she had gone to meet a friend to get a pizza and saw a man who she said was clearly drunk.

She said today: "He was smoking and I asked him to put out the cigarette. He didn't say anything, he just walked outside. Five minutes later he called me to the door and then just punched me with no warning."

Miss Lagerwaard was left stunned and suffered serious facial injuries.

She was taken to Dorset County Hospital and then to Poole Hospital, where she underwent treatment to repair the damage to her jaw.

Miss Lagerwaard said: "It was a nightmare. I had a titanium plate fitted into my jaw, which was painful.

"I've got three children and the last thing I needed to do was spend four days in hospital."

Miss Lagerwaard, who lives in the Park District and has children aged 15, nine and five, said the rise in anti-social behaviour in Weymouth was cause for serious concern.

She said: "It's not something you expect, I'm a local girl and things are getting worse.

"I have got children myself and the last thing I want is for my kids to grow up and have to deal with things like this.

"It's unacceptable, people really do need to think about how much they are drinking and the consequences it has for other people."

Police are looking for a suspect who is white and around 21 or 22 years of age.

He was wearing blue jeans at the time of the incident and is believed to be from the Weymouth area.

PC Dave Thorne of Weymouth Police said: "This was a particularly nasty and unprovoked assault that has left the victim badly injured and I'm very keen to find the man responsible.

"I'd urge anyone who witnessed this assault - and anyone else with any information that might help me identify the man responsible - to contact the police urgently and in confidence."

Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact Dorset Police on 01305 222222.

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