A pensioner was dragged from his car, punched and kicked and had his vehicle stolen by a man he offered a lift to in Up Nately on Friday, August 28.
Police fear his attacker may also have been involved in a second serious incident on the same day, after a 19-year-old woman was assaulted by a man matching the same description. Police have appealed for witnesses to both incidents.
The first happened at around 4.30pm when the 73-year-old victim stopped to help a man who claimed to have sprained his ankle. The OAP, who is from Aldershot, gave him a lift in his blue Peugeot 306 but the man directed him to a country lane where he brutally assaulted him before driving off in his car.
The victim sustained severe bruising and was taken to hospital. He was retained overnight for observation and treatment and is now recovering. Later that same day, a 19-year-old woman was assaulted in a blue Peugeot in Buckskin by a man police fear was the same individual.
The victim told police that she met the man in Basingstoke, accepted an offer of a lift from him where he tried to assault her. The woman escaped and raised the alarm. An incident room has been set up to investigate these offences and are police are trying to locate the vehicle, a three door blue Peugeot 306, registration LV56 FCA.
The suspect is described as white, and was wearing a black, hooded top that possibly had the Nike swoosh and may have been waterproof. Officers are also seeking a man who possibly suffers from Multiple Sclerosis or ME, who may be a regular walker in the area of Hook and Odiham, and is possibly training for a sponsored walk.
The man is aged between 25 and 50 and currently unemployed. He has fair hair and is 6ft tall. Officers believe he may have information that could help their investigation.
Detective Inspector Tim Ireson, leading the investigation, said: “From the descriptions given, the incidents may be linked but we are keeping an open mind at the moment and working to establish whether the same man is linked to both. Clearly this is a very nasty individual who subjected a pensioner to a vicious attack before stealing his car and who then may also have assaulted a 19-year-old woman.
"We have all our resources focussed on finding him, and ask that members of the public in and around Basingstoke and the surrounding area keep an eye out for this car. If you see it or if you think you know who this man is – do not approach him – just call us on 101 or if its urgent – dial 999. Help us find this man.”
Anyone with information should call Basingstoke CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
