Man, 63, arrested after five-day-old baby was PUNCHED in the face by supermarket shopper who 'mistook her for a toy doll'
- Five-day-old Elsie Duckers was tucked up in her pram in a Tesco store
- She was approached by a man who suddenly punched her in face
- Horrified mother watched as Elsie's head recoiled after the blow
- Police have arrested a 63-year-old man in connection with attack
Elsie (picture) was punched in the face whilst her family shopped in a Tesco supermarket
Police have arrested a man after a newborn baby was punched in the face at random in the middle of a Tesco supermarket.
Five-day-old Elsie Duckers, who weighs 6lbs 12oz, was tucked up in her pram when she was approached by a man who overheard family friends saying: 'Come and have a look at this beautiful baby.'
As the baby's horrified mother looked on in shock, the thug suddenly struck Elsie to the head before recoiling when the infant burst into tears.
He then claimed he thought the baby was not real and was a toy. The infant was treated in Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester for seven hours after the punch.
Elsie's mother Amy Duckers, 27, spoke out about the attack which occurred as she was shopping at Tesco's Baguley store in Greater Manchester with the baby, daughter Libby, seven, and partner Lewis Temple, 24.
Mrs Duckers, who works as a carer, said: 'The punch was that hard you could heard the connection as this man hit Elsie.'
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'I just can't believe it - especially as it was on a five-day-old baby. It was the first time I'd taken Elsie out since she was born. Now I'm just too frightened to take her out again.
'My seven-year-old was there and saw everything, and she was just screaming. She thought he'd killed the baby. I don't want anyone to touch Elsie ever again. I literally can't get my head around why someone would do this.'
Mrs Duckers and her family were shopping this evening when they saw a neighbour who worked there.
Amy Duckers (pictured) whose newborn baby Elsie (pictured right with sister Libby) was punched in the face in a supermarket
Police have arrested a man after a newborn baby was punched in the face at random in the middle of a Tesco supermarket (pictured)
Amy (pictured) said she is scared now to take Elsie out of the house after the attack
Trouble began when the neighbour called over a friend who had been shopping with her husband - and as she did so the man rushed over and inexplicably punched Elsie in the face.
Amy said: 'I was pushing Elsie, then five-days-old, around in a small Tesco trolley. It was my first trip out with her, so I was a little nervous, but we weren't far from home.
'We'd just finished our shopping when I spotted my neighbour who had just finished her shift. Lewis had just left to get some coffee, so I pulled in to the top of the aisle so I didn't get in anybody's way.
'That was when Julie spotted one of her friends, who was doing some shopping with her husband. She called the couple over, saying "Come and have a look at this beautiful baby!" But it was then that the husband rushed across very quickly and hit little Elsie in the face.
'He left her with a huge red mark and we at first were just stunned. He then began denying anything had happened, despite the crying children and visible imprint on Elsie's face and I just went hysterical, asking what he just did, why he hurt my baby.'
Elsie was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital at around 9pm yesterday, and was kept in until 4am this morning.
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.'
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