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| Colchester council candidate punched while leafleting | Colchester council candidate punched while leafleting |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A candidate has been punched while out leafleting ahead of the local council elections. | |
| Conservative Carla Hales was attacked while in Colchester's New Town & Christ Church ward on Wednesday. | |
| Mrs Hales said she suffered "sore ribs and a slightly bruised ego" in the attack on Bourne Road. | Mrs Hales said she suffered "sore ribs and a slightly bruised ego" in the attack on Bourne Road. |
| She said she planned to take a couple of days off campaigning to recover but would then continue working as normal. | She said she planned to take a couple of days off campaigning to recover but would then continue working as normal. |
| Essex Police has confirmed it is investigating. | |
| 'Three quick punches' | |
| Mrs Hales said she had been taking pictures for social media when a man approached her and punched her three times in the stomach before running off. | |
| "I had some of my leaflets and was hoping to get some selfies and that sort of thing, I didn't really hear anyone approach because I had my head in my phone," she said. | |
| "A man came up behind me and gave me three quick punches in my side and then said some things I can't say." | |
| Mrs Hales added she was slightly sore but otherwise fine. | |
| 'Ugly side of politics' | 'Ugly side of politics' |
| Conservative group leader Darius Laws said he was saddened and appalled by the attack. | |
| "This is the ugly side of politics and it is an attack not just on a Conservative but an attack on democracy," he said. | "This is the ugly side of politics and it is an attack not just on a Conservative but an attack on democracy," he said. |
| "It is an attack on everyone who seeks to put their name forward to stand up for their community, such violence and intimidation is utterly deplorable." | "It is an attack on everyone who seeks to put their name forward to stand up for their community, such violence and intimidation is utterly deplorable." |
| Other candidates in the New Town & Christ Church Ward are Bob Brannan (Green), Nick Cope (Liberal Democrat) and Elisa Vasquez-Walters (Labour). | Other candidates in the New Town & Christ Church Ward are Bob Brannan (Green), Nick Cope (Liberal Democrat) and Elisa Vasquez-Walters (Labour). |