Hammer-wielding attacker punched man to the ground, smashed his car windows and threatened him and his family off Hurn Road, by the Blackwater Junction, near Hurn

A HAMMER-wielding attacker punched a man in the face, smashed his car windows and threatened him and his family in a “frightening” incident near Hurn.

Police hunting the offender are urging witnesses and those with dash cam footage to come forward after the victim, a man in his 40s, was targeted between 11.35am and 12.20pm yesterday (Tuesday).

He was in a broken-down black Honda CR-V in a layby off Hurn Road, near the Blackwater Junction, when he became involved in a row with another man in a dark-coloured Range Rover parked nearby.

The other man then punched the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground, before driving off in the Range Rover.

Returning about 20 minutes later, wearing a motorcycle helmet and carrying a hammer, he smashed the rear and side windows of the Honda.

The offender also made a number of threats to the victim and his family, as well as to a witness who tried to intervene.

PC Chloe Candy said: “This was a frightening incident for the victim and his family, and we are carrying out enquiries to identify the man responsible.

“I would urge any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to please come forward.

“I would also urge any motorists with dash cam who were driving in the vicinity around the relevant timeframe to please check their footage for anything that might assist our investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact officers online at dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting crime reference number 55230091075.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.