Police share CCTV of violent attack in hunt for man
Police have released CCTV images of a man they are hoping to trace after another man was violently attacked and robbed in the street in Leeds.
The victim, 53, was repeatedly punched in the face and had possessions stolen while he had been waiting for a taxi in Merrion Street at about 04:30 BST on 30 June.
The suspect had been loitering near the man before returning and stealing his phone, wallet, watch and leather jacket, police said.
Det Insp Vicky Vessey said the attack displayed a “sickening level of violence“.
Officers believe the suspect may have also attacked and robbed other people in the area, including a 39-year-old man who suffered facial injuries after being punched from behind in Fish Street at about 04:45 on Monday.
A 19-year-old man was knocked unconscious when he was attacked by one of two suspects in St Alban’s Place at about 01:30 on Sunday.
Later the same morning, a 47-year-old man was attacked and robbed in Regent Street by two males described as being aged 18-20 and possibly Kurdish or Romanian.
The officer said: “We are currently keeping an open mind as to whether all these incidents are linked but they do follow a similar pattern in terms of the circumstances where lone male victims have been targeted while on nights out.
“The CCTV footage from the incident in Merrion Street is truly appalling and shows very starkly the sickening level of violence used by the offender."
Those who recognise the suspect or have useful information have been asked to come forward.
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.
