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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 17 August 2007

Kirsty Sykes was left with facial injuries after a girl struck her with a rock

‘I was shocked that a girl would do something like this to me’

Police hunt teens who left victim covered in blood after attacking her with rock

AS an act of sheer mindless violence the attack on police recruitment officer Kirsty Sykes in Holloway on Wednesday was as nasty as it gets.
The 24-year-old was walking home in broad daylight when three teenage girls approached her.
Suddenly one of the girls pulled Kirsty’s bag, grabbed her by the hair, and proceeded to hit her in the face with a piece of builder’s rock.
Her assailant then said: “Is this the one, is this the one?” To which her friend replied “no”.
As Kirsty staggered with her face pouring with blood from two deep gashes to her head, the three girls, realising it was a case of mistaken identity, went on their way with the youngster responsible for the assault laughing over what she had done.
The incident happened at 6.30pm in Carleton Road, opposite St George’s church, close to where Kirsty lives.
A group of passers-by rushed to help her and managed to stem the flow of blood with paper handkerchiefs before the police and an ambulance arrived.
Kirsty was treated at Whittington hospital for a badly bruised eye and received stitches to her forehead.
Doctors said she was fortunate not to have lost an eye in the attack and was on a 24-hour watch by her mother Sandy to ensure that she hadn’t received concussion.
This week Kirsty, based at Hendon police training college, was praying that her facial injuries would improve before a family wedding at which she is to be a bridesmaid.
One witness saw the teen thug pick up the piece of rock from a building site.
Kirsty’s attacker is described as aged between 15 and 16, black, wearing black trousers and jacket, with gold jewellery and short, cropped, straightened hair.
The two other girls were white and one wore her medium brown hair halfway down at her back. She wore a grey hooded cardigan, a white top, and jeans.
The three girls were heading in the direction of Kentish Town after the incident and police at Islington are checking to see if they have been captured on CCTV.
Kirsty said: “It was an awful shock that a girl could do this and when she realised she’d made a mistake she just carried on as if nothing had happened.
“I was told I lost a lot of blood and I was lucky the injuries were not worse.”
Mum Sandy appealed to friends and family of the three girls to come forward.
She said: “A parent may recognise one of these girls – particularly the assailant. Perhaps the other two didn’t like what happened but couldn’t prevent the attack.
“The point is that the girl who did this to Kirsty must have an extremely violent nature.
“She has probably attacked before and is bound to do it to someone again.
“She must be stopped before someone is really seriously hurt .”

Anyone who can help identify the attackers should contact Islington police on
020 7704 1212.

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