Police are investigating an incident in which a 50-year-old woman was assaulted in Gillen at the weekend.

Police received a report just after 2.30am on Sunday morning of a large disturbance in Memorial Drive involving a group of up to 10 youths. Police were told the youths had gathered on the front verge of a residence in which a party was being held. When the 50-year-old woman who was hosting the party came out of the house and tried to move the group on, they began assaulting her with rocks. When the woman turned to go back inside her house, the group started attacking her with large wooden stakes causing her to fall to the ground. She told police that the crowd then started punching and kicking her as she lay on the ground.

An ambulance arrived and took the woman to hospital where she was being treated for facial fractures. She is expected to be airlifted to Royal Adelaide Hospital tomorrow (Tuesday) for further surgery.

A Nissan Pulsar hatchback which was parked near the house was also vandalised.

Superintendent Michael White said police received a number of calls about the disturbance around 2.30am on Sunday and three police units were dispatched to the scene.

He said the assault was a particularly cowardly attack and police were employing all available resources to identify and arrest the offenders.

"We have a team of detectives and general duties police investigating this incident," Supt White said.

" It's certainly a concern to us that anyone would take part in such a cowardly attack and they can be put on notice that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. Our detectives have been interviewing witnesses all day and we have identified a number of persons of interest and are confident of an early result."

Police are also appealing to anyone who may have been in the area of the disturbance in the early hours of Sunday morning to phone 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.


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