A MAN sustained nasty injuries to his hands and stomach during an attack which one resident has described as being “so scary.”

Essex Police were called to the Watlington Road area, in Benfleet, shortly after 9am this morning following reports that a man had been assaulted.

Once at the scene, which is also said to have been attended by paramedics, it was established that the victim had injuries to his hands and stomach.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called to reports a man had been assaulted in the Watlington Road area of Benfleet at around 9.15am on Saturday October 24.
“The man had sustained what have been described as superficial injuries to his hands and stomach. Our enquiries are ongoing.”

Jodie Silver, who lives not far from where the attack took place, said she saw a heightened police presence in the area, and an air ambulance land in a nearby field.

She claims the injured individual was an off-duty policeman who was on a morning run when he was suddenly stabbed.

This, however, has not yet been confirmed or denied by Essex Police, nor is there currently any evidence to suggest whether or not this was the case.

Jodie said: “I think it was a random attack, but the victim knocked on my sister’s friend’s parent’s house asking for them help.

“It was an off-duty policeman who got stabbed while on a morning run through Richmond.

“I live on the estate, so I saw all the police and an ambulance land, it was so scary.”

Essex Police is now asking anyone with information about the assault to call 101 quoting incident 301 of 24 October.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.