Update – Justin Watson has posted on Twitter, today 18 July 19, that a man has been arrested in connection with Joy’s assault which is great news.
Original article
Joy Watson, a person living with Dementia and an Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society was brutally attacked on Sunday morning around 10am in a layby near Bracey Bridge on the A164 in East Yorkshire.
Joy had witnessed a man mistreating an Alsatian dog and had challenged the couple about what was happening.
Joy told the M.E.N.: “It was Sunday morning. I was driving to Bridlington to support friends who were doing the coast to coast cycle ride for charity.
I pulled into a lay-by, just outside Driffield. I had my breakfast from a roadside cafe. I took my dog for a walk and then returned and put him in my camper van.
I then saw this lady and gentleman. The man had a huge Alsatian. He was having trouble with it as he was pulling and tugging. The man then started kicking it. I asked the lady if she knew him. She said she was his wife. I told her that if he did not stop attacking the dog I would report him.
She kicked off with me and the man put the dog in the back of their car.
The dog was loose in he car and I said to them ‘don’t you have a restraint for the dog, it is the law, to stop it getting out of control in car’.
His wife told me to go away. I didn’t have a jacket on, so my dementia badge would have been clear to them both.
He then thumped me, not a push. I think he saw my badge and must have considered me to be a soft touch. I went down and hit my head on the concrete ground. My nose was gushing with blood.
The couple got back in the car, and drove around me, not knowing if I was dead or alive.”
Humberside Police confirmed they were investigating a report of an alleged assault which was reported at 10.32am on Sunday July 7th.
It is being treated as a section 47 actual bodily harm assault.
A police spokesman said: “We’re investigating after an alleged assault on a woman in a layby near Bracey Bridge on the A164 in East Yorkshire.
They drove off towards Bridlington in a black or blue coloured car, possibly a Hyundai, partial registration YG67.”
Joy was left with a bloody nose and a fracture to her eye socket.
The man was in his 60s and wearing fawn and brown coloured clothing.
Did you witness anything?
Can you help with this appeal?