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Pub attack man has metal plate put in face

Lisa Kenyon
9/ 5/2008

A MAN has undergone surgery to insert a metal plate into his face following an unprovoked attack in an Accrington pub.

Wilf Evans, 45, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, was out having a drink with his partner Julie McMurrough and a few friends at the Calder on Blackburn Road on Sunday 27 April.

While waiting to be served, he was approached from behind by a man who punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

Mr Evans attended appointments with specialist facial consultants at the Royal Blackburn Hospital and on Tuesday he underwent an operation lasting 45 minutes to fit a metal plate to his cheekbone – which was fractured in four places as a result of the assault.

He said: "They have put a plate and screws into my jaw. I have been told to go back on Sunday to have the stitches removed. The plate is about the size of a 10p.

"I was told it wouldn’t have healed on its own bacuse it was fractured in various places. The pain will take time to ease.

"It has shaken me up. I’m having trouble sleeping because of what happened and because of the pain."

The incident occurred at around 10.30pm and police are still appealing for information about the attacker, who is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a stocky build and short dark brown hair.

He was wearing a bright green T-shirt, dark trousers and white trainers.

Anyone with information should contact Accrington CID on 353743 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.