09/11/2015

Girl Arrested After Elderly Woman Punched In Face

Police have launched an investigation after an elderly woman was punched in the face on a bus in Croydon.

A 14-year-old female has been arrested and taken to a south London police station, where she remains in custody. A second female has also been identified, but she has not been arrested at this time.

The incident happened while the victim, aged 87, was travelling on a Route 166 bus on Brighton Road, Coulsdon, at around 3.20pm on Friday 16 October.

It is understood two females boarded the bus without paying. Following a lengthy verbal exchange between the driver and the suspects, most of the passengers got off the bus. However, as the victim got up to leave, one of the females is thought to have punched her in the face before both suspects fled the scene. A passenger assisted the victim and the driver alerted police.

The elderly woman was treated in hospital and later discharged. She suffered a black eye in the incident.

The suspects are described as black, aged between 14 and 18.

One of the girls wore a black head band.

Police Sergeant Arran Hillier, from the Croydon Safer Transport Team, said: "This was a nasty attack on an elderly woman, who just wanted to get home. I urge anyone who may recognise the suspects to contact the police."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(JP)

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