Ms Bradshaw has said: "My immediate thoughts are with the victim of this heinous attack. No one should face such a horrific experience or feel threatened in their place of work, particularly when they are providing a vital service to the public.

"This only reinforces the need for improved protections for those providing any sort of public service, and I welcome the Justice Minister's proposed Sentencing Bill which will introduce a new offence of assaulting a person engaged in performing a public duty, providing a public service or providing services to the public.

"I would urge anyone who has any information, no matter how small, to contact the police on 101, quoting reference 1479.”