Dorset Police news site

Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward following an assault and road traffic collision in Dorchester.

At around 7.30pm on Friday 2 May 2025, two men were travelling in a white Citroen Berlingo van at the Top O’Town Roundabout when a man approached the nearside window on foot and assaulted one of the men with a glass bottle.

The men were able to drive away onto High West Street when they noticed the suspect was a passenger in a 4x4 black Volvo that was travelling behind them.

The vehicles travelled out of the town centre and when they were on Slyer’s Lane, they were involved in a collision.

It is reported that the occupants of the Volvo got out of their vehicle and assaulted one of the men from the van with a knife and a mallet.

The suspects subsequently fled the scene in the Volvo in the direction of the town centre.

The victims sustained injuries that are not believed to be serious.

Detective Inspector Rhys Griffiths, of Dorset County CID, said: “We are continuing to investigate this incident and from our initial enquiries, we believe it involves people who are known to each other.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the town centre and saw what happened, or has information about the incident, to please come forward.

“In particular, I am keen to identify road workers who were at the Top O’Town Roundabout and may have seen the initial incident.

“Also, I am keen to speak to any motorists who were travelling along High West Street or Slyer’s Lane and may have captured anything of relevance on dashcam footage.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55250062290. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.