Young British woman whose jaw was broken by violent footy fan on Swan Street, Melbourne breaks her silence over the ‘vile’ attack
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A young English tourist who was allegedly attacked by a violent footy fan on a night out has broken her silence about the ‘disturbing’ attack.
Poppy, 20, and a friend had just left a bar when they passed three men on Swan Street in Richmond, inner-city Melbourne, at 11.45pm on September 21.
Footage of the incident shows one of the men waving a Brisbane Lions scarf in the women’s faces before Poppy grabs his shirt and swings it at his head.
The man then pulls his arm back before slamming his fist into Poppy’s jaw, sending the young tourist flying backwards into a wall.
Her friend pushed away the man who heard her say, “She hit me.”
Poppy, from Devon in south-west England, was left with a broken jaw, which required the installation of several titanium plates.
She had flown to Australia to celebrate her 20th birthday on October 1, but instead was now on a strict mash diet while her jaw healed.
“Disgusting, I think it’s mean,” Poppy said 7News. ‘I don’t understand how anyone thinks this is a good response, especially for a young girl.
CCTV footage of the incident shows one of the men waving a Brisbane Lions scarf in the women’s faces before Poppy (pictured centre) grabs his shirt and waves it at his head.
The Brisbane Lions fan (pictured center) pulls his arm back before slamming his fist into Poppy’s jaw, sending the young tourist flying backwards into a wall
“I really hope he comes forward, or I really hope his friends push him to come forward. I think that’s the morally right thing to do.”
Victoria Police said a man turned himself into police on Wednesday.
No charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.
She said her parents in England were concerned and the incident delayed a trip along Australia’s east coast with friends.
“I had to postpone all that, and at the time I didn’t know if it would cost me anything,” she said.
‘[My parents] were really worried, and they were quite scared of me too.’
CCTV footage of the incident was released by police earlier this week.
The man was described as between 20 and 30 years old and 176cm tall, with short, dark brown hair with a beard and moustache.
In the video he wore a cream jacket, white T-shirt and black jeans.