Brutal attack leaves Sussex licensee 'covered in blood'

Steve Andrews of The Ark, Newhaven, confronted customers who had taken glasses owned by the pub to a car.

Andrews went to ask for the glasses, and three men got out of the car.

“They just attacked him. They glassed him twice, they punched him and kicked him, it was horrible, he has horrendous injuries,” joint lessee Penny Payne said.

“He was covered from head to toe in blood, you wouldn’t even know it was him, he was disorientated.”

Payne said the attack was ‘unprovoked’ by unfamiliar customers, and the pub 'never' has problems with violence.

A group wishing Andrews well on Facebook has 12,000 members.

Andrews, who is described as ‘not confrontational’, has more than 100 wounds, including two split ears, and multiple cut caused by the glass on his face.

The attack is on CCTV, and police have taken Steve’s blood stained clothes and the glasses used in the attack for DNA evidence.

Manager at the pub James Hall said: “They set on him, punched and kicked him.

“He looks a bit like the elephant man, he has stitches on his ears and face. He is badly swollen.”

Sussex Police confirmed the 55-year-old victim suffered two black eyes, multiple cuts to his face and a broken tooth.

“They didn’t just throw the glass at him, they glassed him, they did him over the head,” James added.

Andrews did not sustain any broken bones in the attack. He was escorted to hospital by police.

His son Jack, 22, first asked the group for the glasses.

“He was told in an impolite fashion to go away,” He said.

Sussex Police confirmed a 22-year-old man tried to help the victim was also punched, but was not injured.

The attackers left the scene by car before police arrived.

Anyone with information should email 101@fhffrk.caa.cbyvpr.hx​ quoting serial 1459 of 30/05, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.