Pub manager attacked

Dave Ives, pictured left, was punched in the face, hit with an ashtray and then smashed across the back of the head with the snooker cue by two customers who walked into Paiges Bar, on Worthing seafront, on Saturday night.

The 23-year-old told the Herald: "It was just freaky. It shouldn't have happened. There was no need for it. It was totally unprovoked.

"It's the first time there has been any trouble in this pub in the two-and-a-half years I have had it."

Mr Ives had to shut his bar after the attack while he was treated in hospital and lost between 600 and 800 in takings.

"It all happened fairly quickly," he said. "A couple of customers came into the bar. It seemed to me there was aggro from the first minute they walked in here.

"They wanted to play pool for money and I told them I don't play for money in my pub.

"One punched me in the face, then he picked up an ashtray and hit me with that as well.

"I was trying to control him and then the other man came at me with a snooker cue from behind."

Mr Ives has got CCTV footage of the men leaving the bar and the police believe they know who is responsible.

Forensic scientists have taken away the snooker cue and ashtray for investigations.

Sergeant Pete Darkin said this was the first incident of its kind at this premises and he was appealing for witnesses to the attack, which happened at 9.20pm. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police on 0845 6070999.