Victim’s jaw broken in Shrewsbury Halloween attack

The victim, who suffered serious facial injuries during the unprovoked attack, was left with a double break to his jaw after being kicked and punched unconscious by the group in the attack in the town centre on Saturday night.

His partner, aged 24, suffered bruising from being pushed over while trying to intervene.

The incident happened in the Roushill area at around 11.15pm on Saturday and detectives from West Mercia Police today said all the attackers were wearing Halloween fancy dress.

They have now issued an appeal for witnesses to the unprovoked assault and urged people with information to come forward.

Constable Ben Oakley, the investigating officer, said as the couple approached the junction of Roushill and Mardol walking towards Hills Lane, they were spoken to by a group of four to six people.

He said: “They were described as being white males with dark hair, aged in their 20s and there may have been a female in the group as well.

“They were all dressed in black and white fancy dress costumes for Halloween, possibly as skeletons, and one was wearing a set of horns.”

Constable Oakley said one of the group told the couple they were from Oswestry and asked for directions to a local nightclub.

“Directions were given by the woman but the group started to become verbally abusive.

“When the man stepped in he was violently assaulted by all the group, knocking him to the ground. This lasted for several minutes before they ran off towards Raven Meadows.”

Constable Oakley urged anyone who witnessed the assault or who spotted the group making off to contact him by calling the non emergency 101 number.

He added: “The victims were obviously very shaken by this unprovoked attack and the man will require an operation on his jaw.”

Information can also be passed to the Crimestoppers charity, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

By David Seadon