POLICE have released an E-fit of a burglar who punched a woman in the face after she disturbed him inside an unoccupied Leigh house.

Residents of Moor Park Gardens in Leigh were aware of an unoccupied house in their street and so were keeping an eye on the property.

At 6.40pm on Saturday, November 12, a 56-year-old woman heard a noise from the side of the premises and went to investigate.

She discovered that the lounge window at the front of the house had been forced open, so called out into the premises but got no response. She then observed the internal front door opening and the intruder emerge into the porch. The outer porch door was locked so the intruder, being unable to escape, ran back into the house.

The woman dialled 999 and, as she was on the phone to the police, the intruder climbed back out of the open window and ran towards her.

He then punched the woman hard to her face causing her to fall back against a wall. She lost a tooth in the attack and sustained swelling and cuts in and around her mouth.

The suspect ran to a new shape black Ford Focus car parked nearby and drove off at speed with no lights on, in the direction of The Fairway.

The suspect is described as an olive skinned male, about 5ft 8ins tall, aged between 30 and 40. He had jet black hair, which was sticking out of the front of the ‘tea cosy’ hat he was wearing, and he had a stubbly goatee type beard. He was wearing a dark jacket or jumper, and a checked shirt, possibly with some yellow on it.

As the suspect assaulted the woman resident and made off, he said two unknown words to her that were either in a foreign language or heavily accented English.

Pc Simon Laurie of the Southend CID Target Team is investigating. He said: "It is rare for burglars to be confronted by members of the public inside addresses. It is even rarer for them to deliberately assault people.

"I appeal to everyone to look at the E-fit of the suspect which is described as a good likeness, although the bottom part of the beard should be less bushy.

"Local residents will be aware of the increased number of burglaries in the area and I am keen for members of the public to continue to call us if they witness suspicious behaviour of any kind, not just that involving a Black Ford Focus car. That car may have been disposed of by now, so any suspicious activity needs to be brought to our attention as a matter of urgency, no matter how minor you may think it is."

You can contact Pc Laurie on 101 or email 2838@essex.pnn.police.ukor call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.