Man reports hammer attack in Brighton on Halloween

Jonathan Le Roux said he was attacked by a man with a hammer in Brighton city centre.

The 46-year-old from Woodingdean said he had been out looking to secure gig bookings for himself and having a few drinks in the area, as well as “trying to make connections in the community”.

He began to make his way home at around midnight, at which point he said he was “quite intoxicated” and talking to people in the street before becoming involved in a verbal altercation with a man.

Jonathan said: “The last thing I remember is seeing a blue hammer.

Jonathan reported undergoing surgery to repair the fracture (Image: Jonathan Le Roux) “I remember the blow to the face. I blacked out and I remember a young woman on the phone and then I remember the police arriving.

“It was all a bit of a blur.”

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Jonathan reported being taken to A&E accompanied by police, although he said he returned home without treatment.

He later received surgery at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, where a metal plate was installed to repair the fracture to his jaw, he said.

An X-ray of his jaw fracture (Image: Jonathan Le Roux) Jonathan added: “For me, it has been a massive blow in terms of emotionally trying to get back out again.

“This is like the final straw. I do not feel welcome at all, even after living here for so long.

“It has affected my mental health.”

Jonathan shared that he suffers from bipolar disorder, which can cause extreme mood changes, and wants to raise awareness of the fact that people with mental health disorders are often victims of crime.

A study by mental health charity Mind found in 2013 that 45 per cent of people with severe mental health issues were victims of crime in the previous year and were five times more likely to be victims of assault than those without.

Jonathan has urged anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch with police (Image: Jonathan Le Roux) He is also calling for anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch with police.

“If we can stop someone from getting hurt, that is my main motivation”, Jonathan said.

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A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Police received a report of an assault on a man in York Place, Brighton, in the early hours of November 1.

“The man attended hospital with a serious injury, and said the incident involved a black man aged in his mid 20s, wearing a blue jumper and jeans.

“Officers are investigating, and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

“Anyone with information about the incident, including CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage, is asked to report it to Sussex Police online, quoting serial 38 of 01/11.”