A £5,000 reward has been offered in return for information about the whereabouts of a man wanted after a serious assault left a woman needing reconstructive surgery to her face.

John Paul Berry, 28, is wanted for questioning after assaulting former partner Mary Connor at her Dunmow home on July 24.

She suffered two broken cheekbones and a broken jaw, as well as a ruptured spleen and needed hospital treatment.

Berry is described as white, about 5ft 6 inches tall, slim, with hair that is sometimes tied up.

He also has a number of tattoos on his upper arms and chest.

Crimestoppers has now offered a reward of £5,000 for information on Berry’s whereabouts.

Berry is believed to have links to Gloucestershire, Cambridgeshire, Wales and Ireland.

In October police appealed for information but urged people not to approach Berry, but to call 999. Dave Hunter, Head of Operations for the Crimestoppers charity, said: “This was a nasty assault and the injuries suffered by Mary Connor almost killed her – this is a scary ordeal she has gone through and John Berry needs to answer the police’s questions.

“That is why I am asking for your help in telling us where he is. I promise that nobody will ever know that you contacted us, you will be 100 per cent snonymous. Always.

“Please speak up and keep your community safe.”

If you have any information on the whereabouts of John Berry please contact the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through the non-traceable Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.