An East Lothian woman says she is struggling to leave the house after being attacked on the street.
Joanne Mary, from Dunbar, was on her way home during the early hours of Monday morning, May 2, when she was grabbed from behind by two men and repeatedly kicked and punched near a popular play park on Rowan Street.
Now, a week on from the incident, Joanne has spoken out about the horrible ordeal and said that she is punishing herself for not acting quicker and a least catching a glimpse of the attackers, with both reportedly wearing black clothes and having their faces covered.
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Struggling to sleep at night due to chronic asthma, as well as waiting for two hernia operations, Joanne uses the quiet night time to work away in her caravan that is parked over the field from her home.
The 39-year-old said that half way home that night, around 2am in the morning, and on a quiet residential street, the men quietly approached and started "laying into" her.
Joanne, who has lived in Dunbar for nearly eight years, said: "I'm still struggling to be honest. I don't sleep very well at night and I'm in a lot of pain. I try to keep myself busy and my motorhome is not really near the house as we recently bought it.
"I usually walk through the park to the caravan as it's just off the main road. I was just doing a couple of jobs with the caravan and started walking back home. Out of nowhere these two men just started laying into me. They put their hands over my mouth as well.
"I didn't see them coming, I didn't even hear them. There is usually a lot of kids outside until late at night playing in the park, you just wouldn't expect something like this to happen. We've been here almost eight years and have never had any problems, it's quiet.
Joanne, who lives with her mum, doesn't remember much about the aftermath of the attack, and keeps getting herself worked up about not doing anything else to avoid the brutal assault.
Joanne added that somehow, she made it home to her mum and explained what had happened, whilst struggling to walk and breathe.
She added: "They were wearing heavy duty boots, I'm starting to remember wee bits and I've told the police but they say I'm getting myself worked up about it and upset, which I am, I'm not afraid to admit it. It's bothering me not knowing who it was or why they did it.
"I don't know how I got home, my mum was in I told her what happened. The ambulance told us to phone NHS 24, who said it was a welfare concern so they sent the police and paramedics who then took me to hospital.
"Most of my body is covered in bruises, there's not a part of me that isn't covered. They're still coming up even a week later. I stayed the night in hospital then got back home, but I'm still struggling to get out and about."
Joanne says the bruises are a constant reminder of a terrifying night and that it is hard to keep looking at them.
She added: "I really am struggling, I'm not ashamed to say that.
"I'm annoyed with myself that I didn't stop them. I used to do judo and I'd like to have been more vigilant to catch their faces."
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "We were made aware of an alleged assault that took place in the Rowan Street area of Dunbar around 2am on Monday, 2 May.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances."
