Couple Attacked On Bus Near Southampton

Police in Bitterne are trying to trace a man who attacked a couple as they travelled on a bus from Millbrook to Thornhill.

The 23-year-old woman and her 28-year-old boyfriend boarded the number 18 Blue Star service on Friday, November 19, in Millbrook before 7pm.

Along the route the bus stopped near Bitterne Precinct at Lances Hill and three men got on.

As the bus continued its journey and travelled through Thornhill, one of the men who had boarded the bus in Bitterne approached the couple and hit both of them in the face and head as the bus passed Dumbleton Towers on Warburton Road at around 7.30pm.

The assault left the woman with bruising to her chin and cheek and the man with a swollen nose.

Police have only received very sketchy details about the suspect. He has been described as mixed race and is known to have boarded the bus with two other men.

PC Rory Stuart from Bitterne police station, said:

“We have very little information about the suspect and the other men who boarded the number 18 at Bitterne on Friday night. However, I am confident someone will be able to help and must have seen what happened. If you were a passenger on that bus and saw a man and woman sitting at the back of the vehicle on the driver’s side being assaulted and have any information then I’d really like to hear from you.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Rory Stuart at Bitterne police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.