'Gang attack has left me scared to go out'

9:07am Thursday 26th June 2008

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A GANG attack victim says her life has been ruined by an assault that left her housebound with a broken leg and knee.

Nicola Smith, aged 20, from Childswickham is too frightened to go into town after she was set upon by a gang of young men outside the Innuendo nightclub in Bridge Street, Evesham,on Sunday, May 26.

A disagreement with another clubber on a bank holiday night out with friends turned into the brawl in which Nicola was injured.

She said: "A girl tapped me on the shoulder and said I owed her an apology from a previous disagreement. We argued and had a bit of a girly fight, just hair pulling, and then her boyfriend came over, pulled me to the floor and jumped on my leg and stamped on my knee."

Nicola's brother Dean, aged 15, was in the club when the incident happened at around 11.45pm and came to her aid but the fight spiralled out of control outside the club.

She added: "It was horrible. All I was worried about was my little brother. The bouncers were nowhere to be seen. It should not have gone this far. No-one from Innuendo did anything to help at all."

Nicola, who has been housebound since the attack and in need of a wheelchair, was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and kept in for three days.

Her leg will be in cast for eight weeks and she will need physiotherapy for up to five months.

Doctors have said she may need surgery as her leg is broken in two places and her knee joint is broken, which could cause arthritis in the future.

"He has ruined my life. I will never go back to that club again. I hope it gets closed down," she added.

Dean was left with bruised ribs and a lump on his forehead and, according to his mother Annette, is still experiencing headaches.

Mrs Smith, aged 38, said: "It is disgusting that a man could do this. Splitting the girls up should have been the end of it. Why did they have to break her leg. What happens to the next person they attack?"

The manager of Innuendo did not wish to comment on the incident.

Police are appealing for witnesses. If you have any information, contact them on 08457 444 888 quoting incident 65/260508.