A vicious thug battered a good Samaritan who stopped to help when she spotted him lying on the road.
The woman was set upon when she got out of her car on Sunday evening on the A70 at Rigside, Lanarkshire.
Police say 39-year-old driver managed to call for help after her attacker ran off and she was taken to Wishaw General Hospital for treatment to her head and body.
The frightening incident unfolded at 6.40pm on Sunday, December 13 as the woman drove her black Ford Kuga through the village.
The man is described as around 5ft 7ins tall with a local accent and was wearing a dark hooded top, a skip cap and dark face mask. He was also smelling of alcohol and it is believed he may have been in the area for a while.
Detective Inspector Kirsty Moore said: "This was a despicable incident, leaving a woman injured and extremely traumatised when she had only stopped to help someone she believed to be injured or unwell.
“It is vital that we trace this man and I ask anyone who was in the vicinity of Shield Burn on the A70 on Sunday evening, and may have seen a man of this description, to get in touch immediately."
DI Moore also appealed to drivers to check dash cam footage for any potential images of the supect.
If you can help call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
