Haverhill – Appeal to trace potential witness following serious assault

Police investigating a serious assault in Haverhill last month are issuing an appeal to trace a cyclist who could assist their enquiries.

Officers were called by the ambulance service at 7.45pm on Saturday 18 April, to reports of an injured man in the car park at Tesco’s supermarket in Cangle Road.

It was reported that the victim, a man in his 40s, was assaulted a short time earlier, at around 7pm, on the old railway line footpath in the town.

The man was walking with his partner when he was approached by a group of approximately five males who shouted verbal abuse and after he tried to speak to them, one of the males hit him on the head with a large branch.

The man was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with a significant head injury where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Officers are treating the attack as an incident of racially aggravated grievous bodily harm.

Detectives are keen to trace a potential witness who was cycling near the skate park by the old railway line, just off Howe Road, just over 25 minutes after the attack is believed to have occurred (7.27pm).

The cyclist encountered two of the suspects and so could have important information. A CCTV still of the cyclist (who cannot be identified) is attached to help jog their memory.

Anyone with relevant CCTV or doorbell camera footage or anyone driving in the area at the time with a dash camera is asked to contact police.

The cyclist, or anyone with information about this incident, is asked to contact West CID at Bury St Edmunds Police Station, quoting reference: 37/22010/26.

Website: https://www.suffolk.police.uk/tell-us     

Email: Rachel.Sams@suffolk.police.uk

Phone: Call 101

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Please note in the event of an emergency you should always call 999