Wanted: Picture released of walker who attacked postman with rock after accidentally splashing him

An E-fit of a man who attacked a postman with a rock after he accidentally splashed him when his van drove through a puddle has been released by police.

The postman was hit over the head several times after getting out of his van to apologise to the walker. The attacker also attempted to gouge his eyes.

Once the postman managed to grab hold of the rock the man ‘calmly walked away’.

The brutal attack took place in Pendle, Lancashire, last month.

The attacker is described as white, of slim build, aged between 50 and 60 years and with balding hair at the front. He was wearing a blue fleece-style jacket and was carrying a black rucksack.

The postman was treated by paramedics at the scene and did not sustain any serious injuries.      

"This was an inexcusable and violent assault on an innocent postal worker who wanted to apologise to someone accidentally splashed by spray from his mail van," Communication Workers Union officer Dave Joyce told Yahoo! News. "The driver had no obligation to apologise and for doing the decent thing he was attacked and injured in an unacceptable criminal act of uncontrolled rage.

"This is a yet another sad reflection of the society we live in, that we have people who turn to violence for little or no reason," he added.

Detective Sergeant Nick Hodgeson, from Burnley CID said: “It is a minor miracle that the victim did not sustain more serious injuries as the level of violence used was so severe and we need the public to come forward and help us identify this man.

“It is unusual that when the victim has taken the rock from the offender and shouted at him he has gone very quiet, almost childlike, and calmly walked away. It may well be that this offender has learning difficulties and perhaps isn’t aware of exactly what has happened.”