Residents react to vicious assault of man in Littlehampton

A 38-year-old man was left with fractures to his ribs and spine and a suspected collapsed lung after he was attacked on Saturday morning at 12.30am in New Road at the junction with Bayford Road.

Police believe the assault was unprovoked and it is understood the man had his wedding ring and wallet stolen during the attack.

Officers are now searching for a thin white man with olive skin, who is 6ft, in his mid-20s, with thick, black, short-styled hair, wearing a black top and jeans.

The victim remains in the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, where his condition is described as ‘critical but stable’.

Speaking to the Gazette, residents said the area had become increasingly intimidating and developed a reputation for drug crime.

One shop worker, who asked not to be named, said: “This part of Littlehampton is worse than Brixton. I’ve grown up in Littlehampton and I know a lot of people here, but if I’m coming back from the train station at night with my girlfriend I think twice about coming this way. At the moment, living in Littlehampton feels like being in a British gangster film.”

A woman, who lives within metres of where the attack happened, said she heard an ‘awful noise’ and looked out her window to see a man lying on the floor.

She said: “I heard a terrible moaning. It was dreadful. I looked out and saw someone lying down, and it’s awful, but at first I had assumed he was drunk because you get a lot of drunk people walking past here. Then I saw someone lying over him asking if he was all right, but he didn’t say anything.”

Another neighbour said she had become too frightened to go out at night.

She said: “I don’t like the area now. I’m scared. I would like to move but I have family living here.”

People that form a neighbourhood watch group in the area said they will now consider introducing CCTV near to where the attack happened after one resident had previously argued they were needed.

Anyone with information about the attack should contact Sussex Police via 101 or email [email protected] quoting Serial 55 of 19/10.