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08:00 - 23-July-2008
Sharon Waite suffered a swollen nose, bruised face and black eye in the attack and hopes going public will help police track down the culprit.
“This has made me feel really down,” said Mrs Waite, who was attacked in Bisley on Monday evening.
“I just did not expect a big burly bloke to get out of a van and smash me in the face. He just went berserk.
“I just wanted him to slow down and I pointed to my dog.”
The man, who wore dusty clothes and had plaster in his hair, stopped the van and punched Mrs Waite. Another man in the van dashed back in after he saw what had happened
“He didn't say anything,” said Mrs Waite, 45. “They just got back in the car, pipped the horn and left. They were just laughing. I have never seen him before.”
Her one-year-old Irish Water Spaniel, Barlough, went for the van driver, and it is believed he bit him.
“He really went for him,” she said. “He would never attack anyone normally.”
She said her injuries are healing and she wants to see the culprit caught, so no-one else becomes a victim like her.
Speeding became such a problem for Bisley residents that an action group, Bisley Against Speeding and HGVs, was set up.
There is a 20mph limit through the village, including Holloway Road, where the attack happened.
“He was definitely doing about 50mph,” said Mrs Waite.
“That's what made me wave at him to slow down. He was going that quickly I could not pull the dog in fast enough.”
Mrs Waite hails from the Lake District and moved to Bisley three years ago.
“I know of other people who have been verbally abused for asking motorists to slow down,” she said.
“But I never expected something like this to happen, in a quiet country area.”
Police have issued a description of the attacker and appealed for anyone who can track him down to come forward. A new piece of evidence which could be crucial has come to light.
The van he was driving was described as a white, long wheel base van with a registration number ending in 7 HBA.
He was described as white, between 35 and 40 years of age, well built, with short dark hair. He was wearing jeans and a dusty, dark blue T-shirt.
He spoke with a Gloucestershire accent and may have had plaster in his hair.
PC Sian Garland, of Stroud police, said it was a “nasty, uncalled for attack on a defenceless victim who was left flattened on the floor”.
“She was really badly shaken up as result of the assault and left with a swollen nose, bruised face and black eye,” said PC Garland.
“I would urge anyone who witnessed the attack or who thinks they know who the offender is to contact us immediately.”
Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact police on 0845 090 1234, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident 578 of July 14.
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