A YOUNG man from Exmouth has spoken out after an unprovoked attack left him with four fractures in his face requiring eight hours surgery, two metal plates fitted in his cheek, and a month off work.
The 20-year-old retail assistant who asked for his identity to be protected, was punched in the face by a man after a night out at the Q Club at around 3.45am on Sunday, November 9.
He suffered three fractures to his cheek bone and a further fracture to the bone below his eye socket, requiring two metal plates to be fitted, and four lots of stitches; in the roof of his mouth, the side of his head, the corner of his eye and under his eye lid.
He has had to take almost a month off work and said he will now struggle to pay his rent and bills next month.
He has spoken out in the hope anyone who knows who his attacker is will come forward, to protect anyone else from getting hurt.
The victim explained how the attacker had launched at him after he tried to defend his girlfriend against another man, who had taken two unsuccessful swings at her.
He said that as he tried to get his girlfriend away from her attacker, another man came at him.
The incident happened close to the junction of Victoria Road and Imperial Road.
Police are appealing for anyone who may have any information to contact them urgently.
"We had just gone out to have a good time," he said. "We had been having a really good night until then.
"After leaving the club, I saw this man, who had previously being kicking off and shouting abuse at everyone including the door staff, take two swings at my girlfriend. And as I intervened, his friend came round the corner and punched me in the face.
"I just wanted to get my girlfriend away from there so we went home and I went to hospital in the morning.
"The first two weeks I had trouble eating, I still do. And I'm in constant pain without painkillers still.
"It's made me feel more cautious about being out late alone," he added.
"Because I've been working at my place of work for less than three months I'm not paid sick pay so I don't know how I'm going to pay the bills next month.
"I know it could have been a lot worse. I just don't want this to happen to anyone else."
Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Southern at Exmouth Police station by calling 101 and quote crime number, CR/ 121277/14. Alternatively police can be contacted anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
