Bendigo attack outside Shish Cafe on couple Alissa Enscoe and Andrew Taylor

A grandmother and her partner who were set upon by a group of teenagers tried to call for help, but 000 were unable to find them.

Bendigo grandmother Alissa Enscoe said she and her partner were attacked by teenagers at 1am on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Picture: Contributed

A group of teenagers out for blood attacked a Bendigo grandmother and her partner in a late-night ambush outside a popular cafe and 000 operators were powerless to help.

Alissa Enscoe said she and her partner Andrew Taylor were out for Friday night drinks on March 26.

The 52-year-old woman and Mr Taylor stopped at the Shish Late Night Cafe on Bull St at 1am on their way home when chaos broke out.

Ms Enscoe said she watched a violent scuffle began between three girls, all aged about 16 years old, when suddenly two tall teenage boys were standing over her yelling.

She said Mr Taylor stood up to protect her as the cafe manager booted the teenagers out of the cafe.

Then 10 minutes later the couple left the cafe — unknowingly walking into an ambush as a group of seven teenagers were waiting for them outside.

Ms Enscoe said at first the couple were heckled as the teens started yelling, but then the group started their attack, throwing their food to the ground and stomped on it.

She said men pinned Mr Taylor to the wall “crucifix style” while one of the boys tried to grab her phone.

“They were ripping his shirt and roughing him up,” she said.

“I was frightened that if he went down they were going to put the boots in.”

Bendigo grandmother Alissa Enscoe said she and her partner were attacked by teenagers. Picture: Supplied

Ms Enscoe said one of the boys put his foot behind her leg and shoved her to the ground, causing her to smash her head against the concrete.

She said the attack left her with a cricket ball-sized lump at the back of her skull.

Ms Enscoe tried to phone 000 but amid the chaos she said she couldn’t hear the operator.

She said all she could do was repeat that she was being attacked on Bull St in Bendigo and they needed police.

“It all happened so quickly,” Ms Enscoe said.

“But it felt like I was on the phone to 000 forever.

“I was thinking ‘No one can help us, no one is coming’.”

Bluffing to her attackers she yelled that police were on their way and the teens scattered.

As soon as they left she called 000 again, but was frustrated that the operator was still unable to work out where she was, even when she repeated her location.

The two minute assault left the 52-year-old with a large lump on her head, bruises to her jaw, arms and legs and damage to rotator cuff in both arms.

When she visited Bendigo Health three days later Ms Enscoe was diagnosed with a moderate concussion and stayed in hospital overnight.

“I had trouble talking, I would have a thought or a word in my head but the wrong word would come out,” she said.

“I couldn’t sleep and if I drifted off I would wake up with pain.

“I still can’t touch the back of my head.”

Alissa Enscoe. Picture: Supplied

Ms Enscoe said it was clear her attackers were on drugs and looking for a fight.

“They weren’t drunk, but they were pinging on something,” she said.

“Those girls they were ready to punch, but it was the boys who did all the damage.

“I saw the look on their faces … they don’t care.

“We were two older people mining out own business …(and) they were vicious.

“They are capable of doing anything.”

But it was the fear and frustration of the 000 call that continues to haunt her.

Ms Enscoe said the emergency hotline had failed her because operators did not have enough local knowledge of Bendigo to send help.

“You’re talking to someone who has no idea,” she said.

An Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority spokeswoman said the closest emergency response centre was 120km away in Ballarat, with the two other centres in Burwood East and Williams Landing, Melbourne.

She said all 000 calls were first sent to Telstra to establish whether police, fire or ambulances were needed and where in Australia the emergency was occurring.

The spokeswoman said if the call was in Victoria, it would be transferred to an ESTA call-taker so help could be arranged.

She said there were a range of methods to locate someone, but callers could help 000 operators by identifying landmarks including shopping centres, pharmacies, airports or sports centres.

She said advanced mobile location technology would be implemented soon, which would use mobile geolocation for automatic and precise location coordinates.