Woman punched in shock attack near Richmond injecting room

A woman has told of her trauma after being attacked near the North Richmond injecting room by a man who appeared drug-affected.

A woman has been left “shaken” after she was randomly attacked by a man who appeared to be drug-affected metres from Richmond’s controversial injecting room.

The 28-year-old woman, who asked not to be identified, said she was walking on Victoria St, which is near the injecting room on Lennox St on Sunday, September 25 at 2.30pm, when a man, who appeared to be drug-affected, randomly approached her and punched her in the face.

“I had just walked out of a restaurant on Victoria St and I was waiting at the lights when this man who appeared to be on drugs came out of nowhere and punched me in the face,” she said.

“He then ran away really fast and I was so shocked. There were a number of witnesses and they called the ambulance. I then went to hospital as my eye was very bruised and bleeding.”

The woman said the attack had left her “shaken” and “trauamatised”.

A woman was punched by a man who appeared to be drug-affected.

She sustained injuries to her eye in the random attack in Richmond.

“I haven’t been myself since it happened. I don’t even feel like I can walk by myself at the moment, it has been really traumatising.

“I am concerned about the area. I spoke to residents and business owners after the attack who said the injecting room has had a negative impact on the community.

“I hope the police catch this man as I don’t want anyone else to go through this, it’s been a really terrible experience.”

In the past year, the Herald Sun has reported a spate of shocking incidents near North Richmond’s injecting room including a man being found dead near the school last year, forcing the school authorities to direct students and parents away from a main entrance.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police were investigating the incident.

“Investigators have been told a woman and her male partner were standing on Victoria St when they observed an unknown man behaving erratically about 2.20pm,” the spokeswoman said.

“The man then approached the woman and struck her to the face with his fist.

“The 28-year-old Melbourne woman sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

“The man ran from the scene in an unknown direction.”

The man is perceived to be caucasian, aged in his 30s, about 180cm tall, with a solid build, and brown shoulder-length hair.

At the time of the assault he had a piece of red cloth or clothing tied around his waist.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Originally published as Woman punched in shock attack near Richmond injecting room