Thug bashes pub staffer
One of three who tried to push their way
into Railway Hotel an hour after closing
A HOTEL security man has suffered a broken eye socket and a badly cut mouth when he was savagely assaulted by a thug, one of three men “wearing rings all over their fingers”, who tried to shove their way into Cowra’s Railway Hotel after it had closed in the early hours of Sunday.
Staff member, Scott, aged in his 30s, is recovering in Orange Base Hospital from his injuries.
Railway Hotel publican Paul Fuz says he, his wife Sharyn and staff were leaving the pub by the front door about 1am on Sunday, after counting tills and closing down for the night, when three “out-of-towners” attempted to push their way past them into the hotel.
Mr Fuz says he told the men that the pub had shut for the night, but still they tried to force their way into the premises.
“Scott said to them, ‘Can we talk about this?’, and went outside to tell them we had shut,” says Mr Fuz.
“He went outside, just out of our sight, and seconds later one of the men we could see said to the others, ‘Come on, we’re going’ and they left towards the town.
“We came outside and found Scott in a bad way on the footpath.
“Then we saw the three of them running away (west) further up (Kendal) street.
“It all happened so quickly – it was over inside two minutes,” says Mr Fuz.
Police and ambulance paramedics were quick on the scene, he says.
“We didn’t even have time to get a good description of them,” says Mr Fuz, other than the three men sported “rings all over their fingers” and one of them wore a pony tail or a rat’s tail.
“They certainly hadn’t been drinking at the pub at any time earlier that day,” he says.
“None of us has seen them before.”
Scott remains in a satisfactory condition in Orange Base Hospital, says Mr Fuz, contrary to reports earlier today (Wednesday) that he’d been transferred to a hospital in Sydney for further treatment.
“I spoke to him on the phone in (Orange Base) hospital last night (Tuesday) and he was feeling better,” says Mr Fuz.
The attacker is reportedly described as being of solid build, wearing dark clothing and possibly sporting a rat’s tail haircut.
Cowra police are investigating.
Anyone with information about the assault should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.