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Colchester council candidate Carla Hales punched taking selfies | Colchester council candidate Carla Hales punched taking selfies |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A local election candidate out leafleting was punched while taking pictures to upload to social media. | |
Conservative Carla Hales was attacked while in Colchester's New Town & Christ Church ward on Wednesday. | Conservative Carla Hales was attacked while in Colchester's New Town & Christ Church ward on Wednesday. |
On the doorsteps in the build up to the elections, assaults and incidents of abuse have also taken place in Coventry and Great Yarmouth. | |
Mrs Hales said the man swore at her in what is believed to be a politically motivated attack. | |
Essex Police is investigating the Bourne Road attack, which left her with "sore ribs and a slightly bruised ego". | |
Earlier this month, Labour councillor Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach was punched in the stomach after delivering a leaflet through a door in Great Yarmouth. Norfolk Police are investigating. | |
West Midlands Police is investigating after UKIP candidates in Coventry were pelted with eggs. | |
'Three quick punches' | 'Three quick punches' |
Ian Rogers and Marcus Fogden also said they believed the pelting was a "politically-motivated" attack. | |
Following the latest attack Mrs Hales, who went to hospital to be checked over, said she planned to take a couple of days off campaigning to recover but would then continue working as normal. | |
She said she had been taking pictures for social media when a man approached her and punched her three times in the side 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. | "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." | "A man came up behind me and gave me three quick punches in my side and then said some things I can't say." |
You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
Conservative group leader Darius Laws said he was saddened and appalled by the attack. | 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). |