Detectives have renewed an appeal for witnesses after three people were injured, one seriously, during a house party near Harlow. A 25-year-old man is still receiving hospital treatment and may lose the full use of his left hand after the assault in September. Police were called to an address at Water Lane, Roydon at about 1.40am on Sunday September 22 following reports of a disturbance at a house party. Officers arrived to find that three men had been assaulted by a group of up to four or five men who had apparently gatecrashed the event. A 25-year-old man from Harlow was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital and treated for a fractured arm, fractured finger and cuts and lacerations to his face and head. An 18-year-old man from Harlow was also taken to hospital and treated for facial injuries. A 23-year-old man from Harlow suffered facial bruising but did not require hospital treatment. Investigating officer, Pc James Smith, said: “This event started as a small house party for about 30 to 40 people but after some of the guests mentioned it on Facebook the numbers multiplied to well over 200. “An altercation started when some of the guests started arguing and others tried to keep things under control. We believe that a small rounders or baseball bat was used to cause the serious injuries to the 25-year-old man. “He was left with serious injuries to his left hand after defending his head from several blows with the bat. His hand was in a cast for four weeks and he is now completing physiotherapy to regain movement in the hand. But having suffered a total of nine fractures in his middle finger he is unlikely to ever be able to bend it at the knuckle again. “This assault was a prolonged attack by a group of people who kept on hitting the victim with a weapon despite him being on the floor and offering no resistance. “We believe that a large number of students from Harlow College attended the party. “There must be people who were at the party and know what happened and who was responsible. I would urge them to come forward and speak to me or report information anonymously via Crimestoppers. The victim in this case has received life changing injuries and those who were responsible need to be held accountable for their actions.” Pc Smith can be contacted at Loughton CID on 101 and the number for Crimestoppers is 0800 555111.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 12:05:37 +0000