Police want to trace men in CCTV images in connection with assault

Do you recognise the men in these CCTV images? We want to speak to them after two men were violently assaulted when one refused to hand over a cigarette during a night out last month.

It happened at around 7pm on Saturday, October 2nd in the smoking area of the Soul Suite on Blackpool Promenade, when one of the victims – a 23-year-old man from Derbyshire – was approached by a group of men.

They have asked him for a cigarette and on saying no, the group, along with others they were in company with, have threatened and punched him.

Both he and his friend have ended up on the floor being kicked and stamped on. He has ended with facial injuries and the second victim, 29, and also from Derbyshire, suffered a fractured skull.

DC Danny Farrell from Blackpool Police said: “To think that someone could be kicked and stamped on to the point of injury, just for refusing to give a cigarette, is beyond belief and utterly appalling.

“We believe that the offenders may have links to Blackburn and could have been in the resort that day to watch the Blackpool v Blackburn Rovers football match.

“I would urge people to look at the men in the images and if you recognise them, or indeed you know anything about this incident at all, please get in contact with us.”

You can email 4096@lancashire.police.uk or can call 101 quoting incident reference 629 of October 3rd.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be reached in confidence on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.