A brave man has been left with two fractured eye sockets after trying to ‘defend the honour’ of his partner and her friend after a brute jumped into their taxi and hurled abuse at them outside Blackdog Ballroom in Northern Quarter.
The 25-year-old victim was ‘savagely’ attacked by three men after leaving the Church Street bar with his partner and another couple at about 3.10am on June 6 – police have now issued CCTV images in a bid to catch the men responsible.
His partner and the other woman in their party got into a black cab but a stranger – one of the offenders – also jumped in and staring verbally abusing the ladies.
When the victim and the man he was with successfully pulled the thug out of their taxi, two other men ran over and launched a vicious assault upon the victim.
Detective Constable Kelly Featherstone said: “All this man was trying to do was defend the honour of his partner and her friend from a stranger who jumped into their taxi and begun making crude remarks.
“As a result, he sustained very nasty injuries after he was savagely set upon by these three men.
“In some senses, the injuries could have been even more severe as we have all seen the tragic consequences of throwing just one punch.”
The victim was repeatedly punched in the head even after he had fallen to the floor.
After he managed to get back onto his feet, one of his attackers aimed a running punch at him but missed.
However there was no escape for the victim as another punch was quickly thrown that delivered such a blow it knocked the 25-year-old unconscious.
He sustained two fractured eye sockets, a depressed cheekbone and needed stiches for a wound under his eye.
After their brutal attack, the three guilty men ran off. A fourth man is also believed to have run off with them although he was not involved in the assault.
Police have now issued three CCTV stills of men they want to speak to in connection with the attack. It is believed they may have spoken with London accents.
DC Featherstone added: “We will not tolerate this sort of violence in our city centre so I am appealing to the public to help us find these men.
“If you recognise any of the men in the CCTV images we have issued, then please contact us with any information you have.
“I would also urge the driver of the taxi to please contact us as they could also have crucial information that will help us identify these men.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
