A dog walker says she is now “scared to leave her home” after being brutally attacked by a teenage girl in a park.

Karen Walker was taking an evening stroll with her lurcher Ruby through Pencester Gardens, Dover, when she was “repeatedly punched in the face”.

The vicious assault left her with a black eye and a cut to the cheek.

The attacker, who is 15 years old, has since been arrested and admitted to the offence when interviewed by police.

Ms Walker, who runs a bed and breakfast in East Cliff, Dover, told KentOnline she has been “incredibly shaken up” following the ordeal on the evening of Saturday, July 20.

“I was walking my dog in the park when I was approached by two young girls,” the 58-year-old said.

“Out of absolutely nowhere one of the girls repeatedly punched me in the face and left me with a black eye.

“It all happened so fast but it really shook me up. Everything has been a bit of a blur the past couple of weeks.

“I went to the minor injuries unit where I was assessed. I was lucky that nothing was broken.”

The girl was identified on CCTV before being arrested and interviewed under caution by police on August 1.

Since the incident, Ms Walker says she has been deterred from visiting the park with her dog.

She believes more needs to be done to protect people in the area and branded Pencester Gardens a “dangerous place”.

She added: “I feel that people below the age of 18 can get away with doing things like this. I have no faith that I will get the justice I deserve.

“I just feel really let down by the police. Pencester Gardens has turned into a dangerous place and I don't feel safe there.

“Over the past week, I have felt scared to leave my own home.

“We live in a place now where you can get randomly attacked for no reason. It's so scary.”

A police spokesperson said: “A review of CCTV from the area led to officers identifying a suspect and a 15-year-old girl was interviewed under caution in the presence of her father on Thursday, August 1.

“She made a full admission to the offence and apologised for her actions.

“The circumstances of the incident are to be reviewed by a multi-agency Youth Justice Team panel in September when an outcome will be decided.”

The panel could decide the 15-year-old should be charged. Other potential outcomes include a “community resolution”, which requires the consent of the victim.