Nic Cruwys trial: Football fan's friend tells how he cradled bloodied victim's head

Watford fan Martin Lewis found fellow Hornets supporter and close pal Nic Cruwys bloodied and unconscious after the attack on March 7 last year.

He told Wolverhampton Crown Court how he ran over to Mr Cruwys and travelled in the ambulance to hospital with him, wondering if he was going to survive the brutal attack.

He said: "Nic is a very close friend of mine. We've been friends since we were about 16. We've been going to the the football together since then. We went to one pub designated for away fans but it was very busy, so we tried somewhere else. Everyone was in great spirits, there were fans there from both clubs."

He added: "It was an entertaining match. After the match we were on our way back to the pub. Our group left in drips and drabs as we normally do. Nic was a bit further ahead of me. I was looking at my phone to see the football results from the other matches.

"I was on my way down towards Littles Lane when I saw out of the corner of my eye a group of individuals running and chanting towards Watford fans in front of me. The group were young males in their late teens or early 20s, they had baseball caps and some had scarves covering their faces. I couldn't hear exactly what they were chanting but I heard the word Wolves.

"I looked up and could see them huddled around something on the floor. There seemed to be fighting, kicking and pushing. As I got closer the group dispersed and I saw Nic on the floor. Blood was streaming out of his face. I ran over to him but when I got there, somebody else was already with him and I was told he was a medic. I picked up Nic's head and rested it on my arm to try and stop the blood. There was a lot of blood on the floor, I was just trying to see if he was still alive. He was unresponsive, but there was some heavy breathing and spluttering.

"At that stage I was concerned that he was in real trouble."

Another Watford supporter, Josh Freedman, told how Mr Cruwys' head 'bounced' off the floor as he was punched to the ground.

He said: "Nic Cruwys got punched in the head and fell to the floor. He was off balance. It looked like he hit his head hard on the floor. It bounced when he landed. People kept kicking him when he was on the ground. I heard someone shout 'right boys, this is done'."

Joseph Lister, of Palmer Close, Wednesfield; Daniel Lloyd, of Longfellow Road, Dudley; Ryan Meer, of Watling Street, Gailey and Robert Beech, from Springhill Road, Wednesfield, all now aged 19, and a 16-year-old from Wolverhampton who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial continues.