THE family of a girl who was viciously attacked by a yob as she walked home from school are appealing for help in catching the culprit.

Connie Dowman, 12, was left needing hospital treatment after being punched by a schoolboy.

She was walking to her home in Raphael Avenue, Tilbury, from the Gateway Academy, along Marshfoot Road, when a boy in school uniform came running up behind her, lashed out and ran away.

Three girls walking behind helped Connie home, but they didn’t see who did it.

Despite her eyebrow swelling to the size of a tennis ball and her eyelids going purple, doctors at Basildon Hospital have told Connie she has not been left with any permanent damage.

Connie’s step-mum, Sonia Dove, posted shocking pictures of the youngster’s injuries on Facebook in the hope someone might come forward with information, but, as yet, no one has – despite the post being shared thousands of times.

And with the culprit still at large, the shy schoolgirl is living in fear the attack might be repeated.

Sonia, 39, told the Gazette: “Connie isn’t the type of girl to seek out any trouble. She goes into school, keeps her head down and wouldn’t say boo to a goose.

“Now she won’t go anywhere alone – she’s even too scared just to go to the shop.

“We’re absolutely disgusted by it. The boy needs to be punished.”

Sonia added that she thinks the boy might have been dared to carry out the assault.

The Gateway Academy is looking into the incident and police are also investigating. A spokesman said: “We are investigating an assault on a 12-year-old girl in Tilbury.

“The incident took place shortly after 2.30pm on September 11 outside the Gateway Academy in Marshfoot Road.

“A black male approached the schoolgirl from behind and struck her to her face.”