Woman, 20, injured in drive-by shooting

10:58pm Friday 7th March 2008

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A WOMAN was left bloodied and traumatised after thugs shot her in the back from a car.

The attackers fired an air weapon through a side window of a black Renault Clio after driving up behind the woman, 20, as she walked with a friend at midday.

She was hit in the back and the pellet passed through her thick woollen coat and t-shirt before piercing her skin, leaving her bloodied.

Police said the Clio then left the scene at speed.

The woman has spoken of her ordeal and told how she screamed out in pain and shock when the pellet hit her in Bury Road, near the junction with Bolton Road North, Edenfield.

Police said the attack was a "completely mindless, stupid and unprovoked" act.

And a ward councillor said the "disturbing" incident could have left the woman seriously injured.

The Edenfield victim, who was too scared of reprisals to be named but went to Alder Grange Community and Technology School, Rawtenstall, said three white men aged around 19 were inside the vehicle.

The sandwich shop worker said: "The car drove past and must have turned round because a few minutes later we heard a fast car coming up behind us. There was a loud bang and I felt a pain in my back.

"I thought I'd been shot and my friend was trying to keep me up because I was screaming.

"I was wearing a thick woolly blue jacket and a white vest and the pellet had gone through both of them.

"It hit me just under my bra strap but next to my spine. The pellet must have fallen out after that but there was blood on the clothes."

The victim's mum said the "idiots" in the car should be sent to prison for at least six months as a punishment.

She said: "It was so dangerous. It could have blinded her and it would have been much worse if it was a child or an old person.

"Her t-shirt was a mess and had blood on it. She was upset as it hurt her a lot."

Police Constable Phil Buck, crime prevention officer at Rawtenstall police said: "This is a completely mindless, stupid and unprovoked act.

"The pellet could have taken her eye out or could have resulted in much more serious injuries.

"We are currently making inquiries to trace the driver, the passengers and the vehicle involved in this serious incident.

"It was a quiet time of the day - 12 noon - when this happened but there must have been witnesses.

"We would urge them to contact us as soon as possible as this sort of incident will not be tolerated."

Coun Darryl Smith for Eden ward said: "This is quite disturbing as Edenfield is a quiet village. You wouldn't expect something like this to happen.

"It's is a mindless act which could quite easily have caused a serious injury.

"Thankfully the young lady involved is all right. Let's just hope the police catch whoever is responsible and action is taken against them to stop them doing this again to somebody else."

The car is described as an old style, mark one black Renault Clio with old alloys and a big exhaust.

The incident happened at noon on Monday and witnesses are asked to call PC Buck at Rawtenstall police on 01706 237481.