staff reporter(wp/es):
A man has been arrested after allegedly punching a five-day-old girl at a supermarket because he thought she was a “doll”.
The man is said to have run up to tiny Elsie Rose in a Tesco store in Manchester before hitting her in the face as her mother Amy Duckers watched on in horror.
He then recoiled and apologised, allegedly stating: “Sorry I thought it was a doll”.
The baby girl, who weighed just 6lbs 12oz, was rushed to hospital but has since been discharged after doctors found she suffered no serious injuries.
A 63-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently being questioned by officers.
It was the first time that Ms Ducker and her partner Lewis Temple had taken their baby out, while her seven-year-old daughter Libby was also with them.
She told the Manchester Evening News: “I’m absolutely broken and torn apart. I can’t believe what me and my daughter had to see last night it was just so horrific. I never ever want anyone to have to go through that again.
“We all heard the punch land on my little baby. We didn’t react at first as we were just so shocked. Then I just screamed.
“He could easily have killed her.”
Greater Manchester Police said: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a baby.
“Police were called shortly before 6.45pm to a supermarket on Altrincham Road in Baguley on Monday to reports of a child having been hit.
“The baby girl was taken to hospital as a precaution and has since been discharged.
“A 63-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in custody being questioned by officers."
A man has been arrested after allegedly punching a five-day-old girl at a supermarket because he thought she was a “doll”.
The man is said to have run up to tiny Elsie Rose in a Tesco store in Manchester before hitting her in the face as her mother Amy Duckers watched on in horror.
He then recoiled and apologised, allegedly stating: “Sorry I thought it was a doll”.
The baby girl, who weighed just 6lbs 12oz, was rushed to hospital but has since been discharged after doctors found she suffered no serious injuries.
A 63-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently being questioned by officers.
It was the first time that Ms Ducker and her partner Lewis Temple had taken their baby out, while her seven-year-old daughter Libby was also with them.
She told the Manchester Evening News: “I’m absolutely broken and torn apart. I can’t believe what me and my daughter had to see last night it was just so horrific. I never ever want anyone to have to go through that again.
“We all heard the punch land on my little baby. We didn’t react at first as we were just so shocked. Then I just screamed.
“He could easily have killed her.”
Greater Manchester Police said: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a baby.
“Police were called shortly before 6.45pm to a supermarket on Altrincham Road in Baguley on Monday to reports of a child having been hit.
“The baby girl was taken to hospital as a precaution and has since been discharged.
“A 63-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in custody being questioned by officers."
