Man Attacked After Going To Help Distressed Woman

Police are investigating after a man was attacked in Portsmouth when he stopped to help a woman in distress.

At around 9.30pm, Thursday, August 19, the 53-year-old man was approached by an unknown woman as he got out of his car outside the Co-op on Twyford Avenue.
 
She told him she had just been beaten up by her boyfriend and got into the vehicle, a Citroen Saxo.
 
The woman’s boyfriend then appeared and threatened the 53-year-old before jumping on the car several times and smashing the windscreen by kicking it.
 
The boyfriend is described as:
  • White
  • Aged in his 20s
  • 5ft 10ins tall
  • Big build
  • Black hair
  • Wearing a black matching tracksuit
 
When the 53-year-old phoned the police, the boyfriend walked away and the man followed him. The boyfriend then grabbed hold of his shirt and ripped it. The man punched him in the face and the boyfriend ran off.
 
PC Marie Maskell from Portsmouth’s Targeted Patrol team said: 
 
“A member of the public has tried to help a woman who alleged to him that she’d been beaten up.
 
“After stepping in to help out a damsel in distress, he had his car windscreen smashed, was threatened and assaulted.
 
“I’d like to hear from anyone who saw or heard what happened on Twyford Avenue last Thursday night, or from the woman herself whom we’ve been unable to trace so far.
 
“We’re releasing a picture of the smashed windscreen in the hope it will jog people’s memories.”
 
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Maskell at Cosham police station on 101 or 0845 045 45 45 from outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You can also call the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.