A dad who said he was attacked by a complete stranger in a takeaway found part of his severed ear on the floor.
Darren Melling, 39, from Old Swan, had travelled back from London where he watched Everton play Brentford on August 27, when he went to meet his cousin for a drink in the Bongo's Bingo bar. After not being able to get into the bar as it was busy, he went for a drink nearby and then decided to call it a night. Darren went to Hot Chillis takeaway on Berry Street just after midnight to pick up some food for him and his wife.
The dad-of-three told The ECHO : "I wanted to meet my cousin for a drink in town because me, the wife, and the kids hadn't been very well in the weeks before and I wanted something normal, and this was normal.
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"I saw this girl on her own [in the takeaway] and she was having trouble with the contactless payment so I asked her if she was okay and if she was trying to pay. I said to her 'you just need to tap here'.
"She said something to me that I can't for the life of me remember, but I remember hearing that she wasn't from here so I asked her where she was from. She said she was from Windsor."
After speaking to the woman Darren explained how another customer then came "nose to nose" with him without saying a word. The next thing he remembered was being face down on the floor.
Darren said: "I was on the floor, face down, and I could just feel them punching or kicking me. When I got myself up they all ran out of the takeaway.
"I asked the staff about CCTV but they said they didn't have any. There was this lad that also helped me and asked if I was okay, and I said I could feel trauma on my lip and nose.
"The lad said to me 'it's your ear, it's on the floor' and I looked down and just saw it there."
Darren has described his attacker as being 6ft 1in, of stocky build with a ginger average length beard and short ginger hair. He said he was wearing a white shirt and dark pants.
Merseyside Police were called and arrived at the scene soon after. Darren was bandaged up at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital and later attended Fazakerley hospital, where his ear was trimmed and sewn up.
The NHS worker said: "Since this I have had sleepless nights and cold sweats. I have driven past where it happened, because I had to, but I just went quiet and looked.
"I was signed off work for three weeks but they have been great. I'm getting some counselling and possibly CBT organised.
"It's just gut wrenching to think he has done this and could get away with it. I've been doubting myself since then, going over what I said and wondering what I did wrong. I wish I did do something because then this would make sense."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We are appealing for information following an assault in Liverpool City Centre. At around 12.45am on Sunday, August 28, officers were called to a report of an assault on Berry Street.
"A man in his 40s was assaulted by an unknown suspect outside a takeaway in the area. He was taken to hospital with several injuries to his face and ear.
"Since the attack officers have carried out an extensive investigation in the area and analysed CCTV footage to identify anyone who could be responsible. Officers are appealing for anyone with information or who saw the incident in the early hours of Sunday morning to contact police.
"You can pass on any information via DM @MerPolCC, ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with reference 22000637509."
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