A young woman was punched in the face and knocked off her bike in an unprovoked attack on her way home from work.

Holly Last was cycling along Luton Road in Chatham, when she was brutally thumped causing cuts and bruises, a fractured eye socket and swollen lip.

Holly, 26, was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital and is having to undergo treatment and scans at East Grinstead specialist unit in East Sussex.

The incident, which happened at about 8.30pm on Sunday, has left massage therapist Holly scared to go out alone.

She is recovering at the home she shares with her father, David, in the Luton area of Chatham.

She said: “It all happened so quickly. I was cycling quite fast and was minutes away from home and I became aware of this man.

“All of a sudden, I felt a fist in my face and I was on the ground. I was in such pain.

“I screamed so loud and a woman came over to help.

“I have never done anything bad to anyone in my life and didn’t deserve this. He didn’t say anything and did not take anything. It was random, he just came out of nowhere.

“I work in Rochester and have been doing the same journey for two years. It has certainly put me off.”

Police said a man was also hurt about the same time.

Police spokesman Sally Smith said a different man was taken into custody after being arrested on suspicion of GBH (grievous bodily harm).

She continued: “Officers were called to an assault in progress in Luton Road, Chatham, at 7.39pm on Sunday, February 9.

“A man was reportedly hit with a bottle and a woman pushed from her bicycle. They both sustained serious injuries and were treated in local hospital.

“A 25-year-old Chatham man was arrested in connection with both offences. He was later released under investigation.”

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