Father-of-three headbutted in unprovoked attack at pub

The 47-year-old went to The Muskham Ferry, North Muskham, after a youth football tournament on Saturday with his wife, their three children and three dogs for something to eat.

The family were sitting outside at what they say is always a trouble-free, family-orientated pub.

“There was a group of five people sitting on the wall using unsavoury language. They had clearly been drinking for some time,” said the man’s wife.

She said the language from one of them became worse when a dog went over to sniff one of their dogs.

“I asked him to stop swearing in front of the children ­— just that,” she said.

“I wasn’t rude or confrontational. I just said it wasn’t necessary.”

The woman said the man came over, “towered above them” and threatened to kill her husband if she embarrassed him like that again.

“My nine-year-old was sobbing,” said the woman.

“He was inconsolable.

“My husband went into the pub to get the manager but he was pursued by this man. When my husband was at the bar he was turned around by this man and headbutted in the face.”

The woman said the other four in the group held him back from striking out again, while other customers went to their defence.

The police were called and arrived in minutes, but by that time the group had left.

The woman said police were directed by locals to a scooter rally being held nearby, but failed to find the assailant.

She said: “It was a dreadful experience. It was a vicious, ferocious attack.

“I have never witnessed anything like it and I never want to again.

“My husband did nothing wrong and that headbutt could have killed him. You hear about one blow being enough to kill.”

The husband was left with injuries to the outside and inside of his mouth and his cheekbone.

Mr Dan Quigley, who manages The Muskham Ferry, said: “We don’t condone that sort of behaviour in any way.

“The group responsible we do not believe to be local.

“We don’t have those sort of incidents here, which was why it was so surprising that it took place.

“We work with the police to prevent such acts and will assist them wherever we can in the investigation.”

Nottinghamshire Police said they were called to The Muskham Ferry at 9pm on Saturday. Investigations continue.

Anyone with information should call Newark Police on 101.

The Advertiser was unable to contact the organisers of the scooter rally for comment.