A man has been sentenced to prison for a horrific and unprovoked assault in which he stubbed a lit cigarette into the eye of a disabled man at a Nottinghamshire pub.
CCTV captures shocking beer garden assault
The violent incident occurred on December 29, 2023, at a pub on South Street, Hucknall. The victim, who uses a mobility scooter, had just entered the establishment's beer garden when he was suddenly attacked by David Brown, aged 40.
Disturbing CCTV footage of the event shows Brown aggressively stubbing his cigarette directly into the man's right eye. The attack was so swift and vicious that other patrons inside the pub were forced to intervene, physically pulling Brown away from the injured victim to prevent further harm.
Lasting impact on victim and family
The victim sustained significant injuries to his eye and has suffered lasting physical and emotional trauma as a result of the assault. PC Oskar Sereda, who investigated the case, outlined the profound consequences.
"It is difficult to imagine the pain he must have suffered during the incident and the emotional and physical impact upon him has been lasting," PC Sereda stated. "He no longer feels safe living in Hucknall."
The fallout extended to the victim's family, with his parents suffering a considerable financial impact due to taking time off work to care for their son in the wake of the attack.
Police condemn 'cowardly' and unprovoked act
In his statement, PC Sereda condemned Brown's actions as a "cowardly attack" that was completely unprovoked, occurring the moment the victim entered the premises. The officer also praised the bravery of the pubgoers who rushed to help.
"I’d like to thank the people in the pub that evening who rushed to help the victim and keep Brown away from him before officers were called to the scene," he said.
Brown was arrested at the scene and has now been jailed following court proceedings. The case highlights serious issues of violence against disabled individuals in public spaces.
