Police are investigating a shocking attack on a pregnant woman who beaten up by a man in front of her small children at a bus stop in Barking.

Officers were called to Ripple Road at around 4pm on Monday (April 27).and found a 30-year-old woman had been attacked by a man who had pushed her off of a 173 bus claiming there was no room for her and the pushchair which held her nine-month-old baby.

After pushing her off the bus, the man allegedly punched the woman repeatedly in the face, chest and shoulders.

When she attempted to call police he took her phone and smashed it on the floor.

The man allegedly assaulted an officer when police did arrive.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to bruising to her face and upper body. Checks were also carried out to ensure her unborn child had not been harmed during the attack.

The baby in the pushchair and the woman's five-year-old daughter were not injured.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses who were standing at the bus stop to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Beverley Williams said "This was a despicable attack on a defenceless pregnant woman who had simply boarded a bus with her nine-month-old child and her five-year-old daughter. Her older child has been left traumatised after seeing her mother being assaulted.

"I am appealing to anyone who was at the bus stop or on the bus who has yet to come forward to please get in contact and assist us with our investigation. The information you provide may prove valuable."

Anyone who witnessed this incident should contact Barking and Dagenham CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm, assault on police and resisting arrest. He is bailed to a date in early June.