Student attacked in branch of McDonald's in Manchester 'for being southern'

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A student was brutally attacked by a man in a branch of McDonald’s in the north of England for “being from London”.

Megan Westlotorn, 18, was standing at the counter waiting for her chicken nuggets in the Manchester branch when a man, believed to be in his early 30s, accosted her because of her accent, she claims.

He started talking to her and when she told him she was a Londoner, his temperament suddenly changed and he started furiously shouting and swearing – labelling her a “tramp”, said Ms Westlotorn.

The first-year student said she fled to the other side of the restaurant but he chased after her and punched her in the face, knocking her to the floor unconscious.

Ms Westlotorn told the Standard: “I could see this man talking to a few different people and then he looked at me and asked where I was from.

“The second I said 'London' he literally just started shouting and swearing at me, saying horrible things about Londoners being tramps and telling me to f*** off.

“I walked away and told him not to talk to me but he must have run after me because the next thing I know I woke up on the floor, completely dizzy.

“I didn’t know what had happened but there was a pool of blood and I was so confused. Everyone around was just in shock.”

Ms Westlotorn, who grew up in south east London, suffered a chipped tooth, cut lip and bruising. She says she is now suffering recurring headaches from hitting her head on the floor.

Police are investigating after the man fled the scene following the attack in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The student only moved from her home in the capital to Salford in September to begin a sports science degree at Salford University.

“Every time I have been out since the attack I feel wary and so cautious over everything. It’s been very nerve-wracking,” added Ms Westlotorn.

“But I’ve not witnessed anything else like it so I’m trying not to let it ruin my experience up here.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police told the Standard: “Shortly after 3am on Sunday 20 November 2016, police were called to a restaurant on Cross Street, Salford to reports that a woman had been assaulted.

“Officers attended and found an 18-year-old girl had been punched in the face by a man who had fled the scene.

“An investigation is underway and police are now appealing for information.”