Police hunt footy fan who broke the jaw of 19-year-old female tourist in Richmond

A 19-year-old English tourist who came to Australia to celebrate her birthday has recounted her “vile” encounter with a violent footy fan who broke her jaw in an unprovoked assault in Richmond.

A young English tourist who had her jaw broken by a violent footy fan in an unprovoked assault has slammed her attacker’s “vile” behaviour.

Poppy, 20, was walking along Swan St in Richmond with a friend after leaving the Public House bar in search of their next venue when a group of “rowdy” footy supporters approached them about 11.45pm on September 21.

Poppy, from Devon, England, said she tried to shove the man away from her after he made a comment to her while waving a scarf in her face.

He then punched her in the face before a group of the attacker’s friends hurried him away, leaving Poppy on the ground with a fractured jaw that required surgery.

Poppy, 19, did not want to be identified. Picture by Wayne Taylor

Poppy’s X-rays, which show her fractured left jaw. Picture: Supplied

Now, police are hunting the man they believe assaulted her.

“I think it’s vile, I think awful, I don’t understand how someone thinks that’s an okay reaction to have, especially to a young girl,” Poppy said on Wednesday.

“I really hope he comes forward, or I really hope his friends push him to come forward.

“I think that’s just the morally right thing to do.”

She said her memory following the assault was hazy.

But it is understood the group donned either Geelong or Brisbane scarfs following the match that night.

“I don’t really remember much after that, apart from getting off the ground and walking away,” Poppy said.

“I was just with one of my friends. I wasn’t with a lot of people and there were a lot of them, so that was just really intimidating.

“I don’t want something like that to happen again. I don’t want to run into that sort of person again.”

The punch left Poppy with several titanium plates in her jaw, stitches running along the left side of her face and she had to have a wisdom tooth removed.

Aged 19 on the night of the attack, Poppy said she arrived in Melbourne in early September to travel around Australia with friends to celebrate her 20th birthday on October 1.

Poppy had to have titanium plates inserted and a wisdom tooth removed in her surgery. Picture: Supplied

The man police are looking for over the assault. Picture: Victoria Police

Her terrifying night in Richmond was supposed to be her final evening in Melbourne before setting off to travel along Australia’s east coast with friends.

Instead, Poppy said she remained in Melbourne to recover in the weeks since, and had only been able to eat pureed food until her jaw recovered.

“It was really scary because obviously this isn’t my country — I came here to go travelling,” she said.

“I’ve had to put all of that on hold, and at the time, I didn’t know if it was gonna cost me anything either.

“They (parents back home) were really worried, and they were quite scared for me as well.”

Senior Constable Elissa Dykstra from Yarra Crime Investigation Unit said the man’s behaviour toward a young woman was “absolutely disturbing”.

She said exactly what sparked the brutal assault remained unclear.

“The actions taken by this individual are not acceptable,” she said.

“Any behaviour like this is concerning.

“Victoria Police as a whole does not condone any violence, particularly any violence towards women.

“It’s not great to see, especially on a busy Saturday night involving a young female.

“A woman, any person, should be able to go out on a Saturday night, enjoy time, especially being a 19-year-old female in the company of just her friend.

“It’s disgusting to see.”

The man was captured on CCTV wearing a cream jacket, white T-shirt and black jeans.

He is described as being aged between 20 and 30 years old and is 176cm tall with short, dark brown hair with a beard and moustache.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, with vision or information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Originally published as Police hunt footy fan who broke the jaw of 19-year-old female tourist in Richmond