Pedestrian badly injured in assault by driver

The 35-year-old, from Goole, has been left with serious head and facial injuries after being punched by the driver of a black Volkswagen Golf who got out of the car to attack him as he walked with his girlfriend across a pedestrian crossing at Gowthorpe, Selby at 2.30pm on Monday.

The driver followed them over the crossing before punching the victim. After being struck, he fell to the floor banging his head on the road and losing consciousness.

Members of the public on the busy shopping thoroughfare rushed to his aid.

The suspect then drove off leaving behind a woman passenger who got out of the vehicle after the assault. She left the scene on foot.

Police say the street was busy with pedestrians at the time of the incident and yesterday launched an appeal for witnesses to the attack.

Det Sgt Fiona Wynne said: “This was a violent and unprovoked assault in a busy shopping thoroughfare.

“The victim received serious head injuries and the whole incident was a horrific experience for his girlfriend who was present when the assault took place.”

A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and yesterday was being held in police custody.

The victim was taken to York District Hospital with serious head and facial injuries.

Last night he remained in a stable condition.

Anyone with any information is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1 and quote incident number 12120000852.