Arrest over street attack

A man has been arrested by police over an attack on a 44-year-old man who was found critically injured in a road outside Stafford Prison.

Detectives arrested the 20-year-old yesterday afternoon on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm. He is being questioned by officers investigating the serious assault in Gaol Road on New Year's Day.

The victim, a 44-year-old Stafford man, remains in hospital today in a critical but stable condition.

He had suffered serious head and facial injuries when he was found in Gaol Road outside the prison in the early hours of Friday morning.

Officers and paramedics were called to the scene, near the junction with County Road at around 2.30am where they found the man. He was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

It is believed that three offenders were involved in the assault. They are described as white, aged in their late teens to early 20s and around 5ft 10in to 5ft 11in tall. One of the men wore a distinctive grey and black horizontally-striped top and another was wearing a white or cream and green top.

A short while after the assault a second man, aged 22 and from Stafford, suffered superficial facial injuries when he was attacked in the same street outside Dallons second-hand shop. He was treated at Stafford Hospital before being released.

Detectives believe the two assaults may be linked. Detective Inspector Matt Derrick, from Stafford CID, said: "We are particularly keen to talk to anyone who has specific information about how the 44-year-old man came to be so badly injured.

"We believe he was the victim of a sustained and serious assault. We are very concerned about his condition and welfare and our thoughts are obviously with his family and friends at this difficult time for them.

"We are currently following a number of positive lines of enquiry such as CCTV footage and officers have carried out door-to-door enquiries in the nearby area. We need to speak to witnesses who may have come into contact with the offenders, or seen the victims, in Stafford town centre prior to, during or after the attack.

"Anyone who has any information should call Stafford CID on 01785 234931 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."