A mum was struck to the ground while her husband was battered with a steering lock in an attack in front of a supermarket.
The violent scenes at Farmfoods in Longton were caught on camera by shoppers arriving at the precinct at lunchtime on Sunday.
Staffordshire Police had confirmed they were investigating the incident, which they described as a “disturbance”.
But the man whose wife was struck, Ib Hussain, said he was furious that he hadn’t even received a call back from the force yet.
The 36-year-old said he had been visiting the shop with his wife and daughter, seven.
Shortly afterwards a struggle ensued.
Video of the incident shows a woman on the ground with several people crowded around her. Mr Hussain is then struck with the steering lock to screams from eyewitnesses, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
Mr Hussain said: “They must have seen us go into the shop.
"A car pulled up, and then another one. I was attacked, and while I was fighting one guy my wife came out to try to stop it.
“When I came to my senses I saw my wife was on the ground. She was hit six or seven times in the face. I was hit with a steering lock as I was trying to get them off my wife.”
Police cars and an ambulance turned up at the scene, with Staffordshire Police saying they had received “several calls” about the trouble.
There were also police dogs at the scene, but Mr Hussain said by the time the force arrived, the attackers had fled.
He added: “My wife was very shaken up and has black eyes. My daughter didn’t speak at all yesterday.”
Mr Hussain, an engineer, also said he had previously told the police that he feared something would happen to him and his family because of an ongoing dispute.
Staffordshire Police has confirmed an investigation is underway.
A spokesman said: "Officers attended as did our colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service. A woman, in her 30s, had been assaulted by a man.
"The victim sustained minor facial injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics. The offender is described as Asian and wearing a Nike green jumper.
"He was seen getting into a black Volkswagen Passat following the assault."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the force on 101 and quote incident 346 of February 12. Information can also be shared via the LiveChat section of the police's website.
