A RUNNER was punched in the chest by a man after he was asked to control his dog. 

Police say a man aged in his 50s was running through the Bytheway Field off Leigh Road in Wimborne when he encountered a man walking a large German shepherd dog. 

The runner asked the dog walker to control his dog and he responded by becoming aggressive and pushed the victim to the chest. 

The dog owner is described as white, aged in his late 20s, around six feet tall and of medium build with a brown beard.  

He was wearing a navy blue raincoat, dark blue trousers and a baseball cap underneath the hood of his coat. 

The incident happened at around 3.40pm on Wednesday, March 15 and police are appealing for anybody with information to the assault to come forward. 

Police Constable Amy Davis, of Dorset Police, said: “We are conducting enquiries into this incident and I would urge anyone who saw what happened, or who has any information that might assist our investigation, to please come forward. 

“I would also urge the dog walker involved to do the right thing and please contact us so we can take your account.” 

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/contact or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55230041042.  

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.