An innocent homeless man who was brutally attacked needed 14 stitches to stop the blood gushing from his face.
Dave Rushton, who is helped by a former Celtic and Scotland star Lou Macari, was knocked to the ground in an unprovoked late-night attack.
The 64-year-old has been living at the Macari Centre, a housing facility for homeless people, for two-and-a-half years, which is owned and run by the former footballer.
Rushton was savagely beaten in a lane at around 10pm on February 11, before paramedics were called to the scene.
He was treated for ‘potentially serious’ injuries and taken to hospital where doctors stitched him up.
Following the violent attack in an alleyway off Birch Terrace, Hanley, an influx of support has come flooding in for Dave, according to Stoke-on-Trent Live.
School kids from Tunstall, who have previously visited Dave at the Macari Centre in an educational trip created hand-made get well soon cards for him.
The shelter’s boss, former Manchester United star Lou Macari, was horrified at the ‘terrible’ state Dave had been left in following the attack.
He said: “He doesn’t remember a great deal as he had a drink. He went down an alleyway which wasn’t a good idea. Somebody came from behind and he just remembers getting knocked down.
“It was obvious he was in a bad state, when we saw him it was terrible. The picture tells its own story.
“He has healed up remarkably quickly and is almost back to his normal self.
“We have been sent lots of mail wishing him all the best. A school in Tunstall came down with some kids who made get well soon cards for him, it was a nice gesture.
“He is doing alright now and his face has cleared up. He has had his stitches out too.
“He hasn’t heard anything from the police.”
Staffordshire Police’s investigation into the assault is continuing.
A spokesman said: “We were called to an alleyway near Lichfield Street, Hanley at around 10.40pm on Friday, February 11 following reports of violence.
“Officers attended along with paramedics and found an injured man in the alleyway. The man, in his 60s, was treated at the scene for facial injuries and taken to a place of safety.
“Inquiries are continuing.”
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at 10.03pm on February 11 to an alleyway off Birch Terrace, Hanley.
“An ambulance attended and crews treated the man on scene for potentially serious injuries before he was conveyed to hospital for further care.”
Anyone with information should contact Staffordshire Police on Facebook, Twitter, or call 101, quoting incident number 877 of 11 February.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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