A pregnant woman was on her way to the shops on Monday night when she was attacked, and left beaten and bruised.
Natalie Hotait, a 24-year-old insurance specialist, was walking to Blacktown Westpoint in Sydney’s west when she was jumped.
“When I turned around, I was immediately hit and I fell to the floor screaming out for help,” she said. “I didn’t get a chance to get a good look at who it was.”
“They hit me in the face, my ribs and in the left eye.”
The attacker attempted to steal her handbag and Natalie believed it was her screams for help that scared the cowardly criminal away.
She forced herself to walk home, bleeding the whole way.
“I was in such a panic and in pain, I just wanted to get home to get some help because I was bleeding,” she said.
Her partner immediately took her to Blacktown hospital, to which it was discovered she had a spilt eyelid, blurred vision in her left eye and suspected broken ribs.
Due to her pregnancy (she is 14 weeks), she was not able to perform a scan on her ribs. The baby was not harmed.
Natalie said she was shocked the attack had happened, as she has walked that route several times before and never had any trouble.
She described her attacker as having a dark complexion, and urged the person to come forward.
“Call the police and tell them what you’ve done,” Natalie said.
“Nobody deserves to have this happen. People should be able to walk the streets without being attacked.”
Blacktown police are urging any witnesses to contact 9671 9199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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