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Leyland driver attacked by yobs
A terrified Leyland driver was hit in the face by a metal nut fired at his car with a catapult.
Andrew Gaskell, 29, from Lowther Crescent, was driving along Worden Lane when he was the victim of the terrifying attack.
The missile shattered a window, showering him with shards of glass, before striking him on the jaw.
He said: "The window exploded and I just felt something smash me right in the face."
Andrew, an assembly operator at Leyland Trucks, managed to keep the car on the road during the attack, which completely smashed the car's windscreen.
He said: "I don't know how I did it. It was scary. After it happened I just pulled over and called the police straight away."
Police searched the car, a Rover 200, after the incident and found a large metal nut, which they believe was launched by yobs near Worden Park.
It is the second shocking incident of its kind in the last two weeks.
In a similar terrifying attack on January 29, a car was targeted as it was driving along Worden Lane at around 7pm.
The male driver was shot at by what he thought was an air weapon, leaving a hole in his rear wing 4mm deep.
Andrew said: "I know it wasn't the first time it had happened. I was lucky.
"It was a good job I was going 30mph. If I was going any faster, the force could have really caused some more damage."
Andrew was taken to hospital where he was treated for cuts to his face from the glass and a large lump on his jaw from the deadly nut.
He said: "The doctors wanted me to be X-rayed because the blood on my face meant you couldn't see what the damage was.
"I had to have tetanus jabs as well because they didn't know what was on the object. I spent my Saturday night in A&E."
But the nightmare didn't end there for Andrew, who had his car impounded after the incident.
He said: "I had to pay my excess because of the smashed windscreen and then my battery went because I had kept my hazards on for over an hour.
"I paid 155 to get it out and then had to spend another 55 buying a new battery for my car.
"It was a random attack and now I have to pay all this money to get it fixed. It infuriates me.
"I've got no idea who it might have been. The shot came from the wall that covers Worden Park so it could have been anyone."
Police have now appealed for anyone with information on the attacks to come forward.
Insp Catherine Platt from Leyland Police said: "Whoever committed these criminal acts have endangered the lives, not only of the victims, but also potentially of other road users and it is fortunate that only damage to two vehicles and a minor injury has occurred so far.
"We are asking local residents for information identifying those responsible so that they can be dealt with appropriately and these offences stopped.
"We have already completed house to house enquiries in the area and will be stepping up police patrols around Worden Lane and the park at relevant times."
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Leyland
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
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