Does this man hold key to vile attack?

Police say this image, taken by an eye witness to the horror assault in Ashton town centre earlier this year, is of a man who could help them with their inquiries.

The attack took place at around 3.45am on Sunday February 28, outside the Queen’s Nightclub on Wigan Road, and it left the victim with serious head injuries in a hospital’s intensive care unit.

He was leaving the nightclub when he was punched once in the face by an unknown assailant, causing him to fall to the pavement and strike his head on the ground.

He was left unconscious on the ground, where he was treated by paramedics before being treated at hospital for facial injuries.

The offender is described as being a white man in his early 20s, around 6ft tall with fair-coloured hair, cropped short.

Det Sgt Nigel Rigby said: “This was a vicious and seemingly unprovoked attack on a man who had simply been enjoying a night out.

“We have seen, all too often, the tragic consequences of these type of ‘one punch’ assaults, and having hit his head on the floor the victim in this case is perhaps fortunate he was not more seriously injured.

“That takes nothing away from the severity of this attack, however, and we are keen to identify the man responsible.

“If you recognise the man in this picture, if you were in the area at the time of the attack, witnessed the assault, or know who committed it, please contact police.”

The victim spent several days in hospital but doctors then allowed him home where his recovery has continued.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 280216/448 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.