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| Sheffield Tourette's bus passenger in hammer attack | Sheffield Tourette's bus passenger in hammer attack |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A man with Tourette syndrome was hit repeatedly around the head with a hammer in an "cowardly" attack police believe may be linked to his condition. | |
| Jonathan Mars, 27, suffered a fractured skull and nose and severe bruising after he was set upon as he got off a bus in Lowedges Road, Sheffield. | Jonathan Mars, 27, suffered a fractured skull and nose and severe bruising after he was set upon as he got off a bus in Lowedges Road, Sheffield. |
| South Yorkshire Police said it was investigating links between the assault and Mr Mars' Tourette's. | South Yorkshire Police said it was investigating links between the assault and Mr Mars' Tourette's. |
| Mr Mars said was left feeling "terrified" after last month's attack. | Mr Mars said was left feeling "terrified" after last month's attack. |
| Police said Mr Mars was assaulted by a man at around 22.20 BST on 4 June, but have only just released details of the incident. | Police said Mr Mars was assaulted by a man at around 22.20 BST on 4 June, but have only just released details of the incident. |
| Supt Colin McFarlane said: "Jonathan is a vulnerable person. He has suffered a nasty attack and one of the things we are pursuing is that it was a result of his Tourette's. | Supt Colin McFarlane said: "Jonathan is a vulnerable person. He has suffered a nasty attack and one of the things we are pursuing is that it was a result of his Tourette's. |
| "[His attacker is] a violent person who has picked on someone with a disproportionate amount of force that could not be justified. | "[His attacker is] a violent person who has picked on someone with a disproportionate amount of force that could not be justified. |
| "I think they are a coward in what they have done and I'm determined that my officers will do all they can to ensure he gets arrested." | "I think they are a coward in what they have done and I'm determined that my officers will do all they can to ensure he gets arrested." |
| 'No reason' | 'No reason' |
| Describing the attack, Mr Mars, a fund-raiser for Tourettes Action, said he was "instantly knocked out" by a hammer blow after getting off the bus. | |
| When he regained consciousness he said he had dragged himself to his flat to phone the police and ambulance service. | When he regained consciousness he said he had dragged himself to his flat to phone the police and ambulance service. |
| He said he also believes the attack may be linked to his condition. | He said he also believes the attack may be linked to his condition. |
| "There was a woman on [the bus] that took offence to my Tourette Syndrome," he said. | "There was a woman on [the bus] that took offence to my Tourette Syndrome," he said. |
| "I told her I had Tourette's and that's it; she got off the bus, but it is still no reason for anybody to attack me. | "I told her I had Tourette's and that's it; she got off the bus, but it is still no reason for anybody to attack me. |
| "It has left me terrified. I was actually scared of buses." | |
| Police said Mr Mars' assailant got out of a silver car behind the bus before the attack and left in same vehicle. | Police said Mr Mars' assailant got out of a silver car behind the bus before the attack and left in same vehicle. |
| Witnesses have been asked to contact South Yorkshire Police or Crimestoppers. | Witnesses have been asked to contact South Yorkshire Police or Crimestoppers. |