Hunt for thugs who smashed man’s eye socket
Date published: 21 April 2011
Police today released CCTV footage of thugs who fractured a man’s eye socket in Royton.
The 36-year-old had left Oddies Bar and was waiting at a taxi rank in Middleton Road when he was attacked by a group of four men.
One punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground. The others then joined in, punching him while he lay defenceless, before getting a taxi to the BP Garage in Featherstall Road. The CCTV images show the yobs going into the store.
The victim sustained a fractured eye socket which required extensive surgery.
One of the offenders has dark-coloured, messy hair and wore a dark T-shirt.
Another had short brown hair and a black jumper. All four were white.
Det-Con Simon Hurdley, of Oldham CID, said: “Sadly, it is criminals like these who, when drunk, resort to violence and give our town a bad name.
“The man was simply minding his own business and waiting to get a taxi home when he was attacked in a senseless assault and these men need to be caught and brought to account for what they have done.
“For the victim it might give him some peace of mind seeing his attackers behind bars, and we also need to send that message that this sort of drunken violence simply will not be allowed to go unpunished.
“I want people to look carefully at the CCTV images. If you recognise any of the men in these stills, or were at the garage at the time they came in, then please come forward and speak to us.”
The incident was at 2.10am on Saturday, February 5.
Anyone with information should call Oldham CID on 0161-856 8952 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800-555 111.
