On the night of Friday 7 April, a man and woman who were known to each other were staying at the Minster Arms in West Street.

It was reported that the man subjected the woman to a number of assaults and she sustained injuries to her knee and thumb.

At around 5am on 8 April the woman reportedly left the hotel and flagged down a passing motorist, who took her home.

The female motorist is described as white, aged in her 40s and with shoulder-length straight hair. She was driving a royal blue car and had a 12-year-old child in the back.

A 50-year-old man from Poole was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and has been released on police bail.

PC Jacob Cartwright, of East Dorset police, said: “We are carrying out enquiries into this incident and I would urge anyone with information that might assist our investigation to please contact us.

“I am particularly keen to speak to the female motorist who picked up the woman outside the Minster Arms during the early hours of Saturday 8 April 2023. She may have important information that could assist our enquiries.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55230053765. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.