Assault treated as attempted murder

Police have stepped up patrols in the area of the attack

Police say they are treating the assault of a 23-year-old woman last week as attempted murder.

The woman was attacked in East Street in the Stonehouse area of Plymouth at about 0400 BST on Saturday, 5 July.

She needed 30 stitches to her head, as well as treatment for neck injuries.

On Friday night, there was an increased police presence in the area and detectives went to Union Street in the hope of jogging people's memories for more information about the attack.

Visible policing

Pc Sharon Newman from Devon and Cornwall Police says club-goers have been shocked by the severity of the attack.

She said: "There is tremendous concern in the area that this vicious attack was carried out.

"We hope that by having high visibility policing in the area we gave the public some reassurance."

The assaulted woman is recovering at home, but police are still trying to find the man who attacked her.

He is described as being white, six feet (1.80 metres) tall and of medium build, and aged between 20 and 50.

He was wearing a mid-blue long-sleeved sweat shirt, with dark blue chino-style trousers.