Thug smashes Good Samaritan's face with single kick (From South Wales Argus)

Thug smashes Good Samaritan's face with single kick

10:43am Wednesday 24th February 2010

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THIS is what happened when a Good Samaritan stepped in to try stop a teenager allegedly racially abusing a shopkeeper.

Father-of-two Paul Evans, 56, had both cheek bones fractured, his nose broken in two places and his jaw separated from his skull after being kicked once in the face - but he said he wouldn't think twice about intervening again.

He was in hospital for six days and needed 11 metal plates inserting in his face.

Mr Evans, of Newbridge, went to the Londis shop in Treowen Road on February 13 at around 7pm to buy Lottery tickets and cider as he was having a night in with his wife Ruth.

While inside, Mrs Evans said a teenager began racially abusing shop owner Iftkher Ali, 40, who refused to sell him cigarettes because he looked too young and had no ID.

"I said 'what's the matter with you, there's no need for that,'" said Mr Evans.

Mrs Evans said the youngster left the shop.

Mr Evans went outside and said he was confronted by the youth, with around a dozen friends.

Mr Evans set his bag down for a moment as the youth approached him.

He said he was shoved, so decided to leave and as he bent down for his bags, he said he was kicked in the face.

"It was painful, I was in a hell of a state," he said.

Mr Evans, who has a 22-year-old daughter Kimberley and step-son Phil Mackey, 35, said he was left bleeding heavily and went back into the shop for help before walking home.

When he got home, he said the look on his wife's was "one of horror."

Mr Evans, who works at Stanco Exhibitions in Cwmcarn, was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital by ambulance.

The operation to repair his broken bones involved doctors peeling back the skin of his face, leaving him with 65 staples across his hairline.

He also has dissolvable stitches on the inside of his mouth and eyelids.

Mr Evans hopes to return to work next week and despite the attack, remains defiant.

He said: "People like this need to have something said to them and not to let them get away with it. I wouldn't think twice about doing it again. I wouldn't hesitate because in my opinion, it's the right thing to do."

* A 15-year-old boy from Newbridge has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in connection with the attack. He was bailed as police continue their investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Attack that shocks us all

OUR story today on Paul Evans who was kicked in the face after telling off a teenager shows the serious consequences petty violence is having in our society today. Mr Evans ended up with two fractured cheeks, a broken nose and required 11 metal plates inserted in his face after just one kick. He had simply told off his young attacker after the boy racially abused a shopkeeper who had refused to sell him cigarettes. The number of young people willing to resort to violence so easily astounds us. This youth used Mr Evans’ head as a football without a single thought to the damage he could do. It seems some young people are immune to the impact violence has. This man has suffered a terrible injury and will no doubt suffer long-term side effects as a result of this one kick. Only yesterday a teenage girl was jailed for life for killing a Fife grandmother during a row over £5 and a borrowed cigarette. The pensioner died as a result of a head injury after she was knocked to the ground and repeatedly stamped on. It is another illustration of how some young people simply don’t care about the consequences of their actions. Of course, violence is nothing new, but it is the sheer viciousness these days that shocks and sickens us.

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