A YOUNG woman has urged others to be careful when out in Chelmsford after she was punched in the face.

Chrissy Youers-Stone had been out celebrating her 22nd birthday at nightclubs Chicagos and Missoula when several men started shouting abuse at her and a friend while they were waiting in Springfield Road for a friend to find a taxi.

She said: “I turned to them and said, ‘You can’t say that to us’, and this guy smacked me in the face.

“I was knocked unconscious for about ten minutes I think and hit my head on the ground.

“Judging from where the bruise on my face was, it wasaswinging punch. It was really intentional.

“I was checked out at the hospital and they said I’d be fine, but I was very confused forafew days and had a big lump and bruise on my face.”

The web designer, who lives in Felsted, now wants other people to be careful when on nights out in the city.

She said: “I just want to try to make other people more aware that the world isn’t just full of fairies, there are bad people out there who do bad things for no reason and that drinking will make you more vulnerable.

“It makes me not want to go out in Chelmsford and has definitely changed my opinion on drinking and alcohol.

“If I hadn’t been drinking, I probably still would have turned and said something, butIdon’t think I would’ve got close enough for him to hit me.

“This guy was obviously looking to hit someone because literally as soon as I started walking to him he hit me, there wasn’t an argument or anything, he just decided to do it.

“I hope the police catch him, butIjust really want people to be careful when they go out.”

Police are investigating the attack, which happened at about 3am on Saturday, June 20.

The suspect is a white man, who was wearing a black T-shirt.

Anyone with any information should call PC Simon Gray at Chelmsford police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.