Police appeal in hunt for man after attack

CCTV image of suspect in assault on Rock Street

POLICE officers investigating the assault of a man in Oldham have released a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the attack.

At around 4.30am on Saturday, June 4, the 22-year-old victim was walking along Rock Street with a group of friends.

A verbal altercation took place between the victim and a group of men who were a short distance further up the road, walking in the same direction.

One of the victim's friends was approached by a man, who told him: "Try and get your mate away before something happens."

The victim's friend replied: "That's what I am trying to do, that's why I'm here," and moved towards his friend to try to remove him from the area.

But before he could reach his friend, a man in the group walking ahead turned and approached the victim, punching him once to the head and knocking him unconscious.

The offender is described as white, around 6ft 2in, and of slim build.

He was wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and had a half sleeve tattoo covering his forearm.

Gravity

Detective Constable Andrew Swettenham said: "So often we see these one-punch attacks take a very serious turn and people can be seriously injured, or even die, when their head hits the pavement.

"Thankfully the victim in this case suffered no such serious consequences, but the gravity of this attack is by no means reduced because of that fact.

"We have issued an image of the man who we wish to speak to in connection with this attack, and though it is not the best quality I believe somebody who knows him would recognise him from this image.

"If you believe you know who this man is, please contact the police."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 040616/0497, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.