STUDENT Suzanne Baker has told how an attacker punched her to the ground on a Swindon street and kicked her repeatedly in the ribs. Suzanne, 17, was walking near Buckhurst Crescent, Walcot, after a night out when she was grabbed around the neck and punched repeatedly.

The attacker then kicked her several times on the pavement before fleeing.

Suzanne, of Hertford Close, Walcot, who is studying childcare at New College, had just walked her cousins home late on Saturday night.

She said: "I was walking towards Chickerell Road when I saw this figure in front of me. I turned round to see if anyone was behind me, and when I turned back round the person had gone.

"When I walked past some bushes I got grabbed from behind around my neck. I was punched in the face and I fell to the floor, where I was repeatedly kicked in the ribs.

"I was too scared to make a noise, and when I was getting kicked I could see blood on my hands. Then it all stopped and the person ran off."

After the attack blood-stained Suzanne tried, but failed, to flag down a car.

When she saw a bus coming she stood in the road and forced it to stop.

"The driver radioed his control room and he took me to my aunty's house in Shaftesbury Avenue," said Suzanne.

"I had a check up at Princess Margaret Hospital, where they found a lump on my face and slight bruising under my right eye. I'm still shocked today."

Detective Inspector James Vaughan, of Swindon police, said police take unprovoked attacks on women seriously and the matter is being investigated.

Suzanne said the attacker could have been a man or a woman, was about 5ft 5ins tall, with spiky hair and was wearing a denim jacket.

If you can help police with their inquiries call PC Robert Macleod on Swindon 528111.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.