The teenage victim of a central Dunedin assault which left her bloodied and concussed is fearful footage of the attack will be spread online.
On Tuesday afternoon, police were called to an incident in George St after a 16-year-old girl allegedly assaulted another teenager.
The victim told the Otago Daily Times she was walking out of a store with her friend when another girl came up behind her and poured a drink over her head.
"I turned around to look who it was and then she grabbed my hair and then started punching me in the head," she said.
The offender hit her about 15 times and kneed her — pulling her crop top down while three others taunted her.
"One of the guys was holding back my friend and wouldn’t let her help me.
"They were just putting their phones in my face, [saying] ‘you’re getting bashed, you’re getting bashed’."
She managed to get away and ran to a nearby shop. Police arrived soon after.
"I’ve just got scratches on my back and on my arms and on my chest," she said.
She was worried about video of the attack being shared online.
"Heaps of people were standing around watching and my top was down.
"I was half-naked and people were filming me.
"I won’t be going into town for a while."
The alleged offender had filmed her in public about a year ago, the victim said.
She wanted her attacker to "get done" for the assault and be appropriately punished.
Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said police were called to McDonald’s George St at 4.30pm on Tuesday.
During the assault, a member of the public intervened and the victim was able to escape and run into a nearby business where staff called the police, he said. The alleged offender left the scene after the victim ran and was yet to be located.
A woman who witnessed the attack said the incident was "horrible, just horrible".
"Knowing that a boy died at the bus hub because of this exact type of behaviour ... it was completely out of control."
She was told by another witness the behaviour was common on that part of George St.
"The poor girl was constantly beaten and dragged around by her hair — there were kids running all around laughing, shouting and cheering as if it was all a game.
"Cellphones were out and they were recording it.
"I’m concerned about this behaviour happening on the main street of Dunedin."
