A WOMAN who went on a night out woke up in bed covered in bruises with no memory of how she got them.
Cheshire Police are appealing to the public for information and are refusing to rule out the possibility the woman, who is in her 50s, was physically or sexually assaulted on her way home.
Officers said the woman had been out with friends on Monday evening and recalls walking her usual route home through Handbridge sometime after midnight.
But the next thing she remembers is waking up in her own bed with bruising over her body.
She reported the mystery incident to police and went to the Countess of Chester Hospital for treatment, although she has now been discharged.
Officers have been searching the plantation area off Prenton Place and have retraced the woman’s steps in an attempt to find out what happened to her.
Some concerned residents contacted the Leader believing a man’s body had been found in the area but police have confirmed this is not the case.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Police are appealing for information following an incident which is believed to have taken place in the early hours of Monday, February 18.
“A local woman, in her 50s, had been socialising with friends, and was walking her usual route home which took her near the plantation, off Prenton Place, Handbridge in Chester.
“The woman's walk home would have taken place at some point between midnight and 1.45am. This is a route she is familiar with, and used to walking.
“However, the woman’s next recollection is of waking up in her own bed with bruising to her body, which she has no memory of receiving.
“The woman attended the Countess of Chester Hospital as a precautionary measure and was checked over before being released.
“The matter was reported to police on Tuesday and officers have retraced and searched her route, which ran through the area of the Plantation, in Handbridge.
“Police are keen to establish how the woman came by her bruising, and have not ruled out the possibility that she may have been physically, or even sexually, assaulted.
“Police are also interested in speaking with anyone who thinks they may have seen the woman as she walked the route which took her past the plantation area as this will assist in piecing together her movements during the period of time which she cannot recall.”
Anyone who has any information should call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 46 of February 19.
Information can also be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555111.