Boy in hammer sex attack

The woman suffered cuts and bruises to her face in the attack

A woman is recovering after a teenage boy wielding a claw hammer indecently assaulted her and burgled her home.

The boy, who she believes was aged 17 or younger, confronted her in her bedroom and punched her in the face before carrying out the attack.

The teenager, who was wearing a hooded top pulled up to cover his face, then ransacked her home on Weeks Road, in Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

He stole a set of car keys, although he did not take the car.

Black shorts

The 45-year-old was treated in hospital for bruising to her face and cuts to her arm after her ordeal at 2015 BST on Wednesday.

The boy is described as white with a suntan and wearing three-quarter length black or grey shorts and black trainers.

After the attack he ran off in the direction of Rosemary Lane, Ashey Road, or Smallbrook Lane.

Police are urgently appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

'Vicious attack'

Detective Sergeant John Stirling said: "This is a particularly vicious attack on a woman at an isolated premises.

"It was a very traumatic experience for her to go through and she has been left deeply shocked.

"We are using all the resources we can on our investigation to make sure we find the person responsible.

"It was still early evening and someone may have seen a youth matching the above description running off from the scene or even around the area prior to the incident."