• Leanne, 22, may be left with permanent scarring after the unprovoked attack in Southend, Essex
  • Three men kicked her legs and body as she lay on the floor before fleeing with her bag
  • Officers issue an e-fit of the attacker they are hunting following the 'unjustified and disgraceful' incident

By Rob Cooper

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This shocking picture shows how a young woman's face was savagely ripped apart by a female gang member as part of an 'initiation ceremony'.

The victim, named only as Leanne, 22, was set upon as she walked alone through a park in Southend, Essex.

She was dragged to the floor by her hair before the crazed attacker repeatedly scratched her fingernails down her face.

Attack: Leanne, 22, is left with a bloodied face after being clawed by a suspected gang member in an unprovoked park attack in Southend, Essex

Attack: Leanne, 22, is left with a bloodied face after being clawed by a suspected gang member in an unprovoked park attack in Southend, Essex

Three men kicked her in the legs and body as she lay in a bloody mess before fleeing with her black Nike bag.

Police fear the attacker targeted Leanne as part of an initiation process for a gang responsible for a recent spate of street robberies in Southend, Leigh and Westcliff, Essex.

She has released this bloodied picture of herself to help police catch the woman and the gang of four men she was with.

The incident happened as she was walking through Southchurch Park, near Woodgrange Drive, Southend.

Attacker: This is an efit of the woman yob police are hunting over the lunchtime park attack on Leanne, 22

Attacker: This is an efit of the woman yob police are hunting over the lunchtime park attack on Leanne, 22

Leanne, who lives in Southend, was so traumatised that when she called 999 she was unable to even give them her surname.

A passer-by comforted her until police and paramedics arrived, and took her to Southend Hospital for treatment.

She could now be left with permanent scarring. Police have also released an e-fit of the woman attacker.

Southend Inspector Matt Bennett said: 'There seems to be a completely unnecessary level of violence that's quite horrific.

'There's no reason why this level of violence has been used, it was totally unprovoked.

'There are theories as to why this happened - maybe somebody tried to prove themselves to the gang, but that's only a theory at the moment.

'Whatever the motivation, it's thoroughly unjustified and disgraceful behaviour.'

Leanne was robbed of her bag containing 62 cash, a gold chain, store cards and documents.

The woman who led the attack was thought to be in her early 20s, about 5ft 1in tall, either tanned or of mixed race with dark-coloured hair in a pony tail.

She wore a grey tracksuit, and would have had blood all over her trousers.

Three of the men with her were black, and the victim described them as aged about 25.

One was wearing a red hooded top and the others had black hoodies. One of them had a red bandana over his face.

A fourth man helped drag the woman to the ground. He was white, in his 20s, skinny and wearing a black jumper.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

There are so many cowards walking around loose. They should be locked up until they are middle aged and their good years have gone whilst the rest of us take walks on the beach or in the countryside, go to restaurants, see movies, sleep in late. Have bacon and eggs on the week ends. Watch a late night film. Buy a pork pie and pint of beer. They should be deprived of every civilised pleasure.

Like my nana says "there was always a lower class and now there is an under class " .

No doubt when/if these scum are caught they will be let off with a caution should Clarke have his own way. EVERY DAY we read about the feral beings walking our streets and how terrifying it is becoming to be alone in our once great land. The punishment NEVER fits the crime, unless of course you commit the heinous crime of avoiding tax or rates, then by golly do they chuck the book at you. Makes you proud to be British doesn't it?

They do it because they know they will probably get away with it or, if caught and put on trial, given a slap on the wrist or a cushy community sentence. There has to be a stronger deterrent - more prisons should be built and more people like these lowlifes put behind bars.

Poor lady I hope her facial scars will heal and also the the mental scars. What kind of low life could do such a thing to another person. Why is it the general public want punishment to fit this sort of crime but our government never listens to us I bet if you fiddle the tax man or the vat man out of a few bob you would get a tougher sentance than this scum if they are caught! God I'm angry.

Being involved in a gang should immediately mean being taken into custody, rehabilitation and community service. There is NO excuse for not having stamped this vermin culture out already. Zero tolerance. Once again dear Government PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE - yet you have let this culture get out of control already despite numerous warnings and obvious examples of the rotten core it spreads in the USA. Depressing, disheartening, devastating, idiotic. The gangs and the government.

it would help if they didnt keep moving those out of london into essex .. its like any typical london street full of gangs hanging about now

More filthy sub-human criminal scum!

Perhaps it's time we brought back public flogging for these sort of crimes.

These people can rot in hell. Get better soon!

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