Man, 63, punched in face and kicked in head after defending girl on bus

The bus passenger was travelling home on the 600 bus from Chichester to Pagham on Monday September 21 when he intervened in a escalating row after a man turned abusive towards people not wearing masks – including the school girl.

But when the victim got off the bus at the Lamb pub at Pagham around 4.30pm, the suspect followed him before launching a blistering attack where he punched the man in the face before kicking him in the head after he fell down.

The attacker then walked off.

The victim was treated facial injuries at St Richards Hospital in Chichester.

The man is described as white, about 6ft with a muscular but slim build in his early to mid-20s. He was clean shaven with short hair and quite a prominent nose, and was wearing a light coloured top with light coloured trousers.

PC Tom Fisk said: ‘This was a nasty and unprovoked attack on a bus passenger simply supporting fellow passengers.

‘We think people will recognise this suspect so if you can help please contact us either online or by calling 101, quoting serial 1126 of 21/09.’

SEE ALSO: Police praise public for helping to find missing man

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.