Student 'inches from being killed' in pub bottle attack

Zack Porter, aged 19, from Stafford, was targeted while spending the evening in Derby.

The student, who is studying zoology at the University of Derby, was assaulted in the city's Walkabout venue in Market Place.

He was head-butted before being slashed across the face with a glass bottle in the nightclub.

His father, Julian Porter, a member of the Support Stafford Hospital group, said: "If the bottle was five inches lower, my son would be dead. I don't understand why these clubs serve alcohol in glass bottles, they can be used as a weapon very easily. Physically, Zack is on the mend but his mental scars will never go."

Mr Porter said the attack left him concerned about his son going out in future.

He said: "There is always going to be that worry in the back of his mind when he thinks about going out that this may happen again.

"That will happen for me too as a parent, but I want him to have the confidence and the freedom to go out. He is one of the nicest, most caring people I know and would never go looking for trouble.

"In fact, he would walk a mile to stay out of trouble. This time I think he just couldn't get away and was dragged into something he would never have wanted to be involved with."

The attack took place on Saturday at 2.20am.

Derbyshire Police have since arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of assault.

In a statement, the force said: "Police have spoken to two people they were trying to trace following an assault in Derby.

"At around 2.20am on Saturday, February 13, a 19-year-old man got into an argument with another man in Walkabout, in Market Place, Derby.

"The victim was headbutted and then slashed across the face with a broken bottle. A woman has come forward and given police a witness statement and a 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault. He has been released on bail while inquiries continue."

Anyone with information call DC Sarah Parkin on 101, quoting 6569/16.