Police are keen to trace a woman who interrupted a gang assaulting a man outside Arbroath Abbey.
The 22-year-old was approached and assaulted by a group of five to six men near to the Abbey’s visitor centre last Thursday afternoon.
Police believe that a woman who walked by the Abbey caused the assailants to stop and may have prevented him suffering more serious injuries.
The victim was able to get away and suffered only cuts and bruises to his face during the assault, which occurred at around 3.45pm.
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland is appealing for information about an incident which happened about 3:45pm on Thursday 14th December near to the Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre.
“A 22-year-old man was approached and assaulted by another group of five to six men.
“Fortunately, he was not badly hurt, but suffered cuts and bruises to his face.
“We are following a positive line of enquiry, but we are very keen to trace a potential witness who interrupted the incident, and may well have prevented the victim from suffering further injury.”
Police are appealing for the woman, or anyone else with information about the incident, to come forward.
“The female witness, who is not further described, walked through the Abbey archway while the assault was ongoing, causing the assailants to stop and giving the victim a chance to get away,” the spokesman added.
“If you have any information about this incident which could help us, particularly if you are the witness we would like to speak to, please call 101 or speak with any police officer.”
