Shopper, 63, punched five-day-old baby who he thought was a 'doll'

Greater Manchester Police has arrested a man on suspicion of punching a five-day-old baby girl at a Tesco supermarket. Elsie Rose, who weighs a tiny 6lbs 12oz, was taken to hospital by ambulance after being punched in the head at the Altrincham Road store in Baguley, Manchester, on Monday (5 September).

She has since been discharged and police have arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting a baby.

A police statement said: "Officers were called to the Tesco store on Altrincham Road in Baguley at about 18:45 BST on Monday, following reports a child had been hit. The baby girl was taken to hospital as a precaution and has since been discharged."

Reports claims the suspect said "sorry, I thought it was a doll" after striking the infant in an attack in front of the baby's mother Amy Duckers and her other daughter.

"I just can't believe it – especially as it was on a five-day-old baby," Duckers told Mail Online.

"It was the first time I'd taken Elsie out since she was born. Now I'm just too frightened to take her out again. My seven-year-old was there and saw everything, and she was just screaming.

"She thought he'd killed the baby. I don't want anyone to touch Elsie ever again. I literally can't get my head around why someone would do this."