Mindless

10:59am Saturday 17th May 2008

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THIS is a yob's idea of fun - the injury which could have blinded Christine Hields.

She was enjoying an evening stroll in the spring sunshine with her husband when she was struck by a can of lager flung from a passing car by a laughing lout. Christine, 44, of Clifton Moor, is now waiting to see whether this senseless attack has left her with permanent eye damage .

She said: "Whoever did this obviously doesn't care for people. They should just take a look at me and see what they have done."

Her husband, Geoff, said: "It's symptomatic of modern society that somebody might think it was a joke"

Police have described the attack as "unprovoked, callous and cowardly".

Christine stunned by car attack during evening walk

IT WAS meant to be a pleasant evening stroll with her husband - but it could have left Christine Hields blinded.

Her blackened right eye is the shocking result of a yob's idiotic action as he flung a can of lager at Christine, 44, from a passing car while she went for a walk in the spring sunshine.

The split-second in which the community care worker glanced up and saw the can of Carling flying towards her face still makes her flinch as she waits to find out whether she has suffered permanent eye damage.

Police investigating the senseless example of York's yob culture have described it as an "unprovoked, callous and cowardly attack" and today appealed for help in their search for the lout who hurled an alcohol-filled missile at Christine as she walked with her husband Geoff, 45, in New Earswick, last Monday at around 9.15pm.

"We decided to go out for a walk by the River Foss as it was a nice evening and we were just crossing Haxby Road when the next thing I knew, a can was flying at my head," said mother-of-two Christine, who works at Hartrigg Oaks Retirement Community in New Earswick.

"When it hit me, all I could thing was I just came out for a walk - now this has happened'. My husband heard somebody from the car which passed us shout Oi!' so this was deliberately thrown at us.

"I feel awful and I just can't believe it's happened to me. I could have been blinded and I'll find out next week what damage this has caused. It has really knocked my confidence and I can't comprehend why anybody would do this.

"Whoever did this obviously doesn't care for people. They should just take a look at me and see what they have done."

Christine's husband, Geoff, said: "I heard somebody shout from a car and saw a beer can hurtling towards us, then I heard Christine scream and I looked round to see her holding her eye, so I tried to comfort her.

"I just can't believe you can't walk along the street without something like this happening. It's symptomatic of modern society that somebody might think it was a joke. I'm outraged by it."

The incident happened near Lock Cottage in Haxby Road between 9.15pm and 9.30pm on Monday. The car involved is believed to be dark grey or silver and possibly a Vauxhall Corsa, with three people in it.

PC Andy Chapman said: "This was a completely unprovoked, callous and cowardly attack which resulted in the victim suffering painful facial injuries, not to mention a great deal of distress for both her and her family.

"The police investigation is ongoing and I am appealing for witnesses or anybody with information about the occupants of this car to come forward as soon as possible."

Anybody with any information should call PC Chapman at the York Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, quoting reference number 12080026438.

Have your say

Are thuggish incidents like this becoming more common in York?