A HAVE-A-GO hero who tried to break up a Covid fight in a bar has told how he was “petrified” after being punched in the face by a pubgoer and then deliberately knocked down by a van.

Paul Hicks, 55, of Cross Street, Worthing, was enjoying an early evening drink with his partner at The Three Fishes in Chapel Road, Worthing, when Philip Forrest got in a row after being reminded to wear a mask and respect social distancing.

Forrest argued with a group of customers before getting in an altercation with Mr Hicks, who stuck up for them.

This continued outside on the street where Forrest punched the 55-year-old in the face before fleeing the scene.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Hicks was walking near Liverpool Gardens when Forrest mounted the kerb in his white Vauxhall Combo van and crashed into him.

“I was absolutely terrified. Petrified,” said Mr Hicks, a former technician with GSK in Worthing. “All I remember was it was raining, I came to on the pavement and then someone put a jumper around me.”

He said he would like to thank those who came to his aid.

“Today you may think people would walk past if they saw any trouble but there were about seven different groups of people who came over after I was hit by his van.”

Mr Hicks suffered serious injuries, including a broken arm and a fractured shoulder blade, during the incident on October 10, 2020.

The van failed to stop, but witnesses told police that Forrest had mentioned he planned to go to the Golden Lion pub in The Strand, Durrington, where he was later found drinking at the bar.

He was arrested on suspicion of driving with 69mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system - the legal limit being 35mcg - dangerous driving and committing grievous bodily harm.

The Argus: Philip Forrest was jailed for ten years in nine months for the attack on Paul HicksPhilip Forrest was jailed for ten years in nine months for the attack on Paul Hicks

Mr Hicks says he is no longer able to work and often suffers nightmares.

“I’m now on a high dose of anti-depressants and my mental health is in bits,” he added.

After pleading guilty to all three offences, Forrest, of Ivydore Avenue, Worthing, was sentenced to ten years and nine months in prison.

However, Mr Hicks, who said he has lost approximately 35% movement in his arm following the incident and is in constant pain and unlikely to work again, thinks this was not long enough.

“I think he should have got longer,” he said. “That could have been a pregnant woman or an old-age pensioner he deliberately knocked down.”

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