A deaf grandmother was left petrified after her hearing aids were ripped out her ears during a terrifying unprovoked attack.
Michelle Riley, 45, who has suffered from hearing problems since birth, was set upon by a gang of female thugs after leaving a charity do at her local social club.
During the prolonged assault, Michelle says the hearing aids she relies on were yanked out of her ears as she was kicked and punched by her young attackers.
And the mum-of-four was only able to escape after police were called to another unrelated incident at the club.
Michelle Riley, 45, who has suffered from hearing problems since birth, was set upon by a gang of female thugs after leaving a charity do at her local social club
Michelle, from Cowgate in Newcastle, says she suffered more than 100 injuries in the attack.
Yet today, more than a year on, no one has been brought to justice.
And knowing the thugs who terrorised her are still at large has left vulnerable Michelle terrified to leave her home.
She said: ‘I remember everything like it was yesterday. I took a good beating. They dragged my hearing aids from my ears so I couldn’t hear what was going on. It was very scary and to this day I have no idea why.
![She said: 'I remember everything like it was yesterday. I took a good beating. They dragged my hearing aids from my ears so I couldn't hear what was going on'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/30/14/21649480-7741547-She_said_I_remember_everything_like_it_was_yesterday_I_took_a_go-a-50_1575123564404.jpg)
She said: ‘I remember everything like it was yesterday. I took a good beating. They dragged my hearing aids from my ears so I couldn’t hear what was going on’
Michelle was born partially deaf and cannot hear without her hearing aids and has to lip read to communicate with others.
Michelle had joined friends at a bingo night at Blakelaw Social Club, organised to raise money for a cancer charity, before she was attacked on October 18 last year.
But she decided to stick to soft drinks at the event because she had a hospital appointment early the next day.
Michelle says was at the front of the social club waiting for a taxi home when she was suddenly set upon.
‘The next thing I knew I was getting kicked all over by five people,’ she said.
When a taxi pulled-up outside the club Michelle attempted to get in. But her assailants followed her and stole her handbag.
‘I was begging the taxi driver to take me home,’ she continued. ‘But the taxi driver just drove off. I said: “just please take us home”, but one of them was banging on his taxi.
‘My teeth were smashed, my hearing aid was off, there was blood all over the place and there was no one there to help us.’
Thankfully a police officer, who was responding to reports of an unrelated incident at the social club came to Michelle’s aid.
‘I just fell to my knees and begged him to just take me home,’ she said.
‘He brought us home.’
![Michelle had joined friends at a bingo night at Blakelaw Social Club, organised to raise money for a cancer charity, before she was attacked on October 18 last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/30/14/21649582-7741547-image-a-54_1575123733401.jpg)
Michelle had joined friends at a bingo night at Blakelaw Social Club, organised to raise money for a cancer charity, before she was attacked on October 18 last year
The following day Michelle gave a statement to police and went to the Royal Victoria Infirmary to be checked over.
Among her injuries were broken teeth, a damaged jaw and extensive bruising.
She said: ‘With my hearing aid being out my ear drum got burst. I ended-up with 107 injuries.’
In the weeks that followed, Michelle heard rumours that she had been attacked because she was mistakenly believed to be the person responsible for the theft of a phone in the social club.
‘I do know that a phone was stolen and I got the blame for it,’ she said.
In the says, weeks and months after the assault Michelle waited for news of her attackers’ arrests.
And as time wore on she gradually became more and more afraid of going outside for fear of running into the violent gang.
!['My teeth were smashed, my hearing aid was off, there was blood all over the place and there was no one there to help us'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/11/30/14/21649482-7741547-image-a-51_1575123578666.jpg)
‘My teeth were smashed, my hearing aid was off, there was blood all over the place and there was no one there to help us’
‘I just can’t get over it, I’m just traumatised,’ she said. ‘It has broke us. I won’t go out now.
‘I have been to two parties since this happened and I have to come home because I was looking over my shoulder constantly.
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‘I think with them doing that to us for nothing it’s made us scared of the outside world, I’m just nervous and frightened in case it happens again.
‘I had a good social life before this happened. But as far as I go now is the shops.
‘I just want justice now.
Northumbria Police is still investigating the attack on Michelle.
A spokeswoman said: ‘This has been a nasty incident and we are working hard to bring those responsible to justice.
‘Our enquiries are still ongoing. We are keen to hear from anyone who thinks they might have witnessed this incident. If you think you can help, please contact us.’