I was hit in the head with a ROCK thrown by a dog walker after I picked up my puppy when he approached with 2 Labradors

A TRAUMATISED woman was left with a bloodied face after she was hit in the head with a rock thrown by another dog walker.

Rachel Matusiewicz, 36, was walking her 12-week old miniature dachshund Rolo when she says she was shoved to the ground and struck in the head with a rock.

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The attack took place at 2pm on November 24 as she walked through Bradgate Park in Leicestershire.

Rachel says that her attacker pushed her with such force that Rolo went flying in the air.

Rachel said: “I am a 6ft woman and I have always considered myself to be a strong person.

“Although I was terrified for my own safety, the most traumatic thing was the sound that Rolo was making after he was sent flying out of my arms, into the air and landed on his back.

“I could hardly see what was going on around me because of the blood pouring into my left eye after he launched the rock at my head.”

She describe how she saw the mystery man approach her with two large Labradors who where off their leashes.

She went on: “Rolo was still a tiny puppy and shouldn’t have been mixing with other dogs so instinctively picked him up again.

“I only let him down to see if he would go to the toilet.

“The man was eyeballing me. It felt so invasive and uncomfortable. He lingered, said hello and smiled.

“I smiled back but didn’t say anything.”

Rachel says that after the man had walked past her, she went to put Rolo back down on the ground.

Before taking her hands off her puppy she looked back to check there was enough distance between them but says that he was still watching her.

Rachel said: “It was a brief but really strange exchange.

“He said ‘you’re a bit weird’ repeatedly, I assumed it was because I had picked Rolo up as they had gone past so I began explaining it was due to him not having all of his vaccinations yet.

“He responded by saying I was mentally unwell and that I had mental health issues in such a demeaning tone. I was really taken aback by what had been said.

“So I picked Rolo back up and turned to walk in the opposite direction. As I walked away a stone came flying over my shoulder and just narrowly missed Rolo’s head.

“I turned around and realised that he had thrown it at me. He was laughing in the distance.

“So I got my phone out so he knew I would have his face on my phone. He had thrown stone at my 12-week old puppy.

“I went towards him with my phone recording him, then he suddenly went back on himself and the next second he was stood next to me.

“I then felt contact on my arm. He grabbed me and shoved me with such force that Rolo went flying through the air as I was pushed to the ground.

“Rolo had landed on his back and was screaming. It was so traumatic as I thought he’d broken his back.”

‘I FELT SO POWERLESS’

Rachel claims that after she was shoved she felt a sharp object hitting her head.

She says he then grabbed her phone before running off and leaving her bleeding on the ground.

Rachel said: “I screamed after him begging for my phone so that I could ring someone.

“I got Rolo in my arms and knew I needed to find someone. He was making so much noise and I was hysterical screaming for help.

“I could barely see out of left eye due to the blood. I’d never had a head injury before.

“I was going as fast as I could until I eventually found some people to help me on the footpaths who called the police for me.

“The police drove me home in my car. Once I had spoken to them, I then took Rolo to the vets in the state I was in.

“He just wagged his tail while they checked him over and cleaned him as he was covered in my blood.

“He hasn’t been the same since, he’s been more wary and scared.

“That evening I went hospital to get my head looked at as it was still bleeding. It was a deep cut that they cleaned up and glued back together.”

I haven’t really been able to sleep as it plays in my mind over and over again.

Rachel Matusiewicz

Rachel said that the experience has really affected her, but that she has been continuing to go out and about with Rolo as she doesn’t want him to suffer.

She said: “It motivates me to go out. I haven’t really been able to sleep as it plays in my mind over and over again.

“I am jumpier when I pass men and I don’t feel safe now. The whole thing has made me feel so weak for how I let it affect me.

“I felt so powerless.

“I don’t even feel particularly supported by the police, as they haven’t even issued an appeal on their website. It’s almost caused second-hand trauma.”

Leicestershire Police said: “Officers are continuing to investigate a report of robbery in Bradgate Park last month.

“Shortly after 2.45pm on Wednesday 24 November it was reported that a man had thrown a rock at a woman, causing a cut to her head. The man also took her mobile phone before running off.

“No arrests have been made at this time and enquiries are ongoing. Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting reference 21*685830.”

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