Police in Lancaster are appealing for witnesses to come forward with information after three separate assaults on students in the town last weekend.
The first incident took place around 11.50pm on Friday October 8 2010 when a student was assaulted as he got out of a taxi on South Road. He was approached by four men, one of whom punched him to the head three times in an unprovoked attack.
Two men were assaulted in a second incident that took place around 12.50am on Saturday October 9. The men had been drinking in city centre pub on Moor Lane, before leaving together in the direction of another public house in the city.
Whilst en route, they walked down Brewery Lane to the junction with Lodge Street where they were approached by a group of at least seven men, one of whom asked for the time before assaulting both men.
During the assault they received punches, kicks to the body and head and were also stamped on by the offenders. The victims sustained head injuries, a cracked jaw, cuts, bruises and soreness.
A short time later at 1.45am on Saturday October 9 there was a third incident on the Millennium Bridge where three students were attacked after they got out of a taxi near to Sainsburys on Water Street as they walked to the Millennium Bridge towards Lune Street.
They were confronted by up to nine men, one of whom has thrown a bottle which has hit one of the victims on the back of his head. The three students were then set upon individually by the group.
One student was punched numerous times to the face sustaining swelling and pain to his face. The second man was punched to the face and placed in a headlock and the third victim was punched to the face and body and knocked to the floor unconscious before being kicked about the head and body. He sustained grazes, bruising and soreness to his face and body.
Detective Sergeant Mark Stephens from Lancaster and Morecambe CID said: “These were all particularly ferocious attacks that were all without provocation and all victims are fortunate not to have been more seriously injured.
“In the final incident the three students had only come to Lancaster five days earlier as first year University students.
“We do believe that the assaults are linked and I would appeal to witnesses to any of these incidents to come forward and make contact with the Police at Lancaster on 01524 63333. A full investigation is underway”.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact police on 01524 63333 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A 17 year old boy from Lancaster, 19 year old man from Lancaster, 20 year old man from Lancaster and 21 year old man from Morecambe have all been arrested in connection with these incidents and are currently on police bail.
Advice on how to stay safe on a night out can be found on the Lancashire Constabulary website.
