Hammer attack victim has '˜life-changing' injuries

THE teenage girl attacked with a hammer in Portsmouth has life-changing injuries, say police.
CCTV image released by Hampshire Constabulary investigating hammer attack in Portsmouth.CCTV image released by Hampshire Constabulary investigating hammer attack in Portsmouth.
CCTV image released by Hampshire Constabulary investigating hammer attack in Portsmouth.

Detectives have revealed that that attack was so severe that they are treating it as attempted murder.

They are offering a £5,000 reward in return for information which will lead to the arrest and conviction of the man responsible.

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Police say the 17-year-old girl has been left with life-changing head injuries after she was attacked with a hammer in Shearer Road, Fratton, just before 7pm on Monday, April 11.

An efit of a man police want to speak to after the hammer attack on a 17-year-old girl in Shearer Road in Buckland, Portsmouth on Monday eveningAn efit of a man police want to speak to after the hammer attack on a 17-year-old girl in Shearer Road in Buckland, Portsmouth on Monday evening
An efit of a man police want to speak to after the hammer attack on a 17-year-old girl in Shearer Road in Buckland, Portsmouth on Monday evening

She is being treated at Southampton General Hospital.

And last night investigations were stepped up as detectives were seen scouring drains in Shearer Road for evidence.

Resident Szilard Gerocz, 33, said: ‘There were about seven of them and they were looking for something.

‘What’s happened is terrible.

An efit of a man police want to speak to after the hammer attack on a 17-year-old girl in Shearer Road in Buckland, Portsmouth on Monday eveningAn efit of a man police want to speak to after the hammer attack on a 17-year-old girl in Shearer Road in Buckland, Portsmouth on Monday evening
An efit of a man police want to speak to after the hammer attack on a 17-year-old girl in Shearer Road in Buckland, Portsmouth on Monday evening

‘The police have been here every day since it’s happened.

‘I think it’s better if they are here, as when they’re not, things like this happen. It’s not good.’

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Detective Chief Inspector, Liz Williams, of the Major Crime Department, said: ‘This is a complex investigation and we’re currently following several leads; we’ve had a positive response from the public so far and we believe they will be crucial to helping us solve this crime.

‘We are still keen to speak to the man in the CCTV image in connection with the investigation, whom we believe was in the Commercial Road and Edinburgh Road area of Portsmouth on Saturday, April 9.

‘Someone will recognise him – please come forward.’

Superintendent Will Schofield, District Commander of Portsmouth, said: ‘I firmly believe the local community may hold the key to helping us solve this attempted murder and I’m appealing directly to anyone who has information about the incident, or recognises the man from the CCTV, to come forward and speak to police.

‘There is a £5,000 reward being offered for information which leads to a successful prosecution and I’m hopeful that this reward will motivate someone to come forward.

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‘I would like to reassure the public that this is being treated as an isolated incident at this stage, however we have increased policing presence in the area.’

If you have information, or recognise the man, call police on 101 quoting Operation Gather.

Or call the anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.