Blacon Head injuries victim was ‘attacked’

May 27 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

THE partner of a man found with serious head injuries says he told her he had been attacked in the street.

Andrew West, of Stamford Road, Blacon, is being treated in the intensive care unit at Hope Hospital in Salford where his condition is described as serious but stable.

His girlfriend Nichola, who has two children with Andrew, says he told her before losing consciousness that he had been assaulted.

Mr West was discovered in Hatton Road, Blacon, shortly after 10.30pm last Thursday, and taken by ambulance to the Countess of Chester Hospital but later transferred to Hope Hospital which has a Neurosurgical Centre.

Detectives says Mr West’s injuries are consistent with either an assault or a fall but have so far been unable to talk to the patient because he has been heavily sedated.

Nichola spoke to him in his hospital bed before he went unconscious.

She said: “He answered my questions and knew what I was saying. I asked if somebody had hit him and he said “yes”. He had an argument a couple of weeks ago and I asked him if it was anything to do with that and he said it was.

“He’s stable now so that’s a bit better. They took him off sedation on Sunday but he was flailing his arms around so they put him back on.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident or anyone who has information about what may have happened.

Detective Constable Clare Fletcher said: “We have not been able to speak to him yet. He has a head injury. We are investigating the fact that he may have been assaulted.

She appealed for anyone who might have been outside numbers 23 and 25 Hatton Road between 10.30pm and 11pm last Thursday to come forward.

A 33-year-old local man was arrested but later released on bail pending further inquiries.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 0845 458 000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.