CCTV clue to Mercedes carjacking

Police investigating the carjacking of a woman company director in south London are today examining CCTV images of a vehicle which is believed to have followed the victim's £50,000 Mercedes for several minutes before the attack.

The 41-year-old mother of four was punched unconscious after driving from the Blackwall Tunnel and being shunted by the other vehicle. She got out to speak to the driver but was hit in the face. Her assailant and another man then leapt into her black 4x4 Mercedes ML-320 and drove off.

Police have taken film from several cameras, including those covering the Blackwall Tunnel. At present they are not releasing details of the suspect vehicle.

Detective Inspector Tim Grattan-Kane, who is investigating the attack, described how the woman was about to enter a roundabout shortly after leaving the tunnel when her car was rammed from behind.

"The driver of the other car got out and approached her and punched her extremely hard. Witnesses describe how he hit her so hard he lifted himself off the ground.

"She was completely knocked unconscious by the punch. The man then jumped into the Mercedes and drove off in the direction of Woolwich with the other car following behind."

The attacker is described as being a black man, aged around 30, about 5ft 10in and wearing dark clothing.

After the attack at 2.15pm on Friday other motorists came to the black woman's aid but she was unconscious for five minutes before being taken to hospital.

She was robbed near the Makro warehouse store on Bugsby's Way with its junction with Anchor & Hope Lane in New Charlton.

The woman was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at Woolwich where her condition today is "comfortable".

Her left eye is said to be completely shut, one of her cheekbones is badly swollen and she has a four-and-a-half inch gash thought to have been caused by a ring on her attacker's hand. The attack came days after estate agent Timothy Robinson was stabbed to death in a possible carjacking in Battersea. Police have not recovered the Mercedes and believe it may be given a new identity and sold abroad.

Appealing for witnesses, Mr Grattan-Kane said: "There have been more of these type of offences recently. It is now a much easier way of getting a high-value car because the increase in security has made it much harder to steal them."

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