Thugs beat up Lewis Ridley as he tries to protect his girlfriend

10:08am Saturday 5th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

Lewis shows his injured face Lewis shows his injured face

A MAN needed surgery on his serious facial injuries after he and his girlfriend were brutally attacked by two men while on a night out.

Lewis Ridley and Ellie Nicholson, both 20, were on the riverside walk near Ouse Bridge on a work night out before Christmas when two men approached them, shouting abuse and punching Ellie to the ground, knocking her unconscious.

As Lewis tried to protect his girlfriend, he was set upon, and has had to undergo a lengthy and complicated operation to reposition his cheekbone. Ellie suffered a broken hand and severe pain to her head as a result of the attack.

Police, who said the incident was not captured on CCTV, said it was a “nasty, unprovoked attack, completely unacceptable in a civilised society”.

Ellie, of Stockton Lane, York, said: “I came round and Lewis was covered in blood. I was crying uncontrollably for about two hours. I had never seen so much blood, it was horrible.

“We are coming to terms with what has happened but it is something which is never going to leave our minds. It has had such an impact on our life. I have never been scared to go out in York, but it seems to be so much more common and I don’t understand why the police are not putting up more CCTV.”

The couple, who work at CPP, have only just been able to return to work more than two weeks after the attack. Mr Ridley may need further operations to his face.

He said of the attack: “I was more concerned about Ellie. I tried to get in the way and take the brunt of it. It’s not right, people picking fights with a girl.”

City of York Council said it did not have a dedicated CCTV camera covering the whole length of the footpath. David Carter, head of network management, said: “The council is always seeking to improve the city’s CCTV system coverage.

“However, this is subject to the limited resources available. There are some 78 cameras that cover the city centre and they have been positioned to provide the greatest coverage, so that they can track incidents as far as is possible.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “This was a nasty, unprovoked assault on two people enjoying a night out in the city.

“Unfortunately, the incident was not captured on CCTV and the description of the suspects has not led to their identification.”

Police ask anyone who knows anything about the attack, in the early hours of Sunday, December 16, to phone 101.

Comments(32)

bob the builder says...
11:06am Sat 5 Jan 13

How much more proof do we need that York's streets and hostelries are unsafe - there have been multiple attacks by persons previously unknown to the victims through December, and few arrests. Even if they do get caught, more often than not they have previous convictions, are unable to pay compensation and get fines which they have to pay off weekly! Law abiding tax paying English people get a raw deal in their own country.

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bob the builder says...
11:12am Sat 5 Jan 13

... and prison is seen as a holiday, with SKY TV, good food, access to drugs and alcohol and an opportunity to learn new 'skills' from their peers. If this is what human rights and civil liberties bring to our society - protection and privileges for the bad, there is little hope for the good.

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xtc says...
11:53am Sat 5 Jan 13

Seems to be getting regular now the stories of attacks in pubs etc in town we stopped going out last year due to wife getting pregnant,and can't say we feel like going out again due to this and me being disabled,it's sickening hope you both get well soon had a good Xmas and hope York police get em!

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yorkborn66 says...
1:01pm Sat 5 Jan 13

I hope you and your girlfriend in time can move on from this, physically and mentally. They are lowlife, cowardly scumbags. What I would like to say would be removed off this site.

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only human says...
1:09pm Sat 5 Jan 13

scumbags,i hope they catch these animals before they strike again,next time it could be murder.I do hope the both of you recover from you ordeal.

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eurosteve says...
2:12pm Sat 5 Jan 13

The scumbags know exactly where the blind spots are and exploit the situation again and again.

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Lavender20 says...
3:21pm Sat 5 Jan 13

I'm so sorry that you both have had some a horrific trauma/experiance and hope you both can learn to live with it and move on.

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oi oi savaloy says...
3:25pm Sat 5 Jan 13

quote james alexander... "york is a safe city"

stuff like this is happening all the time, ainsty on new year a poor bleeder was brutally attacked... corner house pub before christmas a girl was attacked by a lad WITH a to let sign... castle howard ox attack in the early hours of the morning ....

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Ellie0108 says...
4:42pm Sat 5 Jan 13

I would like to thank everyone for the support towards Lewis. It was horrific what happens and it makes me so sad to think the scum that did this will not be brought to justice! This is becoming so much more common in York and something needs to be done!

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RoseD says...
5:24pm Sat 5 Jan 13

oi oi savaloy wrote:
quote james alexander... "york is a safe city"

stuff like this is happening all the time, ainsty on new year a poor bleeder was brutally attacked... corner house pub before christmas a girl was attacked by a lad WITH a to let sign... castle howard ox attack in the early hours of the morning ....
How awful, I am hoping a good recovery, physically and emotionally, for both victims.

What happened at Castle Howard Ox? I heard nowt about that, or missed the story....

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TERRIER3 says...
5:59pm Sat 5 Jan 13

bet they are hard as nails though, punching a woman, how hard can you get

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bosher1 says...
6:15pm Sat 5 Jan 13

Absolutely shocking that 2 lads could beat a girl at any time. it must have been devastating for poor lewis to see his beautiful girlfriend been attacked and not being able to do nothing to stop them, and for ellie to come round an see the state of her boyfriends face. I wish them both well ( people will slate me for saying so, but im for carrying something with me when away from the safety of my home for mine and the people with me's safety, I know its illegal but come on in the world we live in this sort of thing seems to happen everywhere be a victim or not and in my opinion and id rather them than me an mine im for live an let live but mess with me and i,ll end your days

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Torkie says...
7:34pm Sat 5 Jan 13

Knives are poor self defense weapons, it won't stop an attacker and you'll end up getting swamped. Don't assume everyone will turn and run.

There's very little you could do in this situation.
Some gym work and a bulking diet might help lewis regain some lost confidence.

All the best.

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oi oi savaloy says...
7:37pm Sat 5 Jan 13

RoseD wrote:
oi oi savaloy wrote:
quote james alexander... "york is a safe city"

stuff like this is happening all the time, ainsty on new year a poor bleeder was brutally attacked... corner house pub before christmas a girl was attacked by a lad WITH a to let sign... castle howard ox attack in the early hours of the morning ....
How awful, I am hoping a good recovery, physically and emotionally, for both victims.

What happened at Castle Howard Ox? I heard nowt about that, or missed the story....
Check "hunt for man after pub assault" story ...

What's going on with licensing laws in York? It seems pubs in residential areas can just stay open 24 hours a day! Pubs in residential areas allowed to stay open till midnight on a Sunday is shocking! This as happened in York in the last 2 years under the labour council! And then these thicko loony lefties wonder why we have drink related problems!! This poor lad and his girlfriend will probably be mentally scarred for a good long while .. I hope this isn't the case , all the best to em both

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SB Dubs says...
8:36pm Sat 5 Jan 13

From the day all day drinking was allowed, it ruined a beautiful place like York. You can't walk round at lunchtime without some drunken men or women showing themselves up in broad daylight. So by night time its even worse. Terrifying to take your family out for a meal or whatever. Surprised C of Y council don't do anything about it, if not for the residents sake maybe for the tourists sake

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bosher1 says...
8:41pm Sat 5 Jan 13

couldn't agree more knives are not very good defensive weapons on the other hand they very good attacking tools as proven by the amount of bladed attacks that are commited each day in the uk alone with not many of the victims over powering them and gaining the upper hand so as attack is the best form of defence i don't think you'd really want to just pull a blade and stand there waving it thinking they going to run away and leave you alone i think more like chasing them and wanting to stick the blade up there arse so they'd think twice about attacking some innocent person again

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Woody G Mellor says...
9:31pm Sat 5 Jan 13

bosher1 wrote:
couldn't agree more knives are not very good defensive weapons on the other hand they very good attacking tools as proven by the amount of bladed attacks that are commited each day in the uk alone with not many of the victims over powering them and gaining the upper hand so as attack is the best form of defence i don't think you'd really want to just pull a blade and stand there waving it thinking they going to run away and leave you alone i think more like chasing them and wanting to stick the blade up there arse so they'd think twice about attacking some innocent person again
You need professional help.

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spottycow says...
9:45pm Sat 5 Jan 13

DOESNT look good for YORK TOURIST INDUSTRY if this gets in the national papers . cant believe no cctv covers this area .THESE two TW.TS ARE SCUM.get your finger out NYP.

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Torkie says...
9:49pm Sat 5 Jan 13

bosher1 wrote:
couldn't agree more knives are not very good defensive weapons on the other hand they very good attacking tools as proven by the amount of bladed attacks that are commited each day in the uk alone with not many of the victims over powering them and gaining the upper hand so as attack is the best form of defence i don't think you'd really want to just pull a blade and stand there waving it thinking they going to run away and leave you alone i think more like chasing them and wanting to stick the blade up there arse so they'd think twice about attacking some innocent person again
lol you sound worse than them. Don't throw your life away over some thugs.
You're underestimating the situation anyway, a group fighting for their lives is a formidable thing, you'll be disarmed and beaten to a pulp way worse than without the knife. Carrying a knife is a good way to improve your chances of getting stabbed.

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northernlight62 says...
11:24pm Sat 5 Jan 13

council stop spending over a million £ on new furniture and a new hq when the money could be better spent!!!!!

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Woody G Mellor says...
11:28pm Sat 5 Jan 13

northernlight62 wrote:
council stop spending over a million £ on new furniture and a new hq when the money could be better spent!!!!!
Yeah. They should sit on the floor and use typewriters.

Sigh.

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bosher1 says...
6:18am Sun 6 Jan 13

Woody G Mellor wrote:
bosher1 wrote:
couldn't agree more knives are not very good defensive weapons on the other hand they very good attacking tools as proven by the amount of bladed attacks that are commited each day in the uk alone with not many of the victims over powering them and gaining the upper hand so as attack is the best form of defence i don't think you'd really want to just pull a blade and stand there waving it thinking they going to run away and leave you alone i think more like chasing them and wanting to stick the blade up there arse so they'd think twice about attacking some innocent person again
You need professional help.
the couple in question certainly did after finding themselves in a situation they couldn't handle you or a member of your family may need the same help some day. then will it be oh im ok doc ive only been beaten mugged or raped, no i suppose we would hear oh please doc help plz im hurting, help your self before calling on the pro's to wipe your arse for ya

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bosher1 says...
6:50am Sun 6 Jan 13

Torkie wrote:
bosher1 wrote:
couldn't agree more knives are not very good defensive weapons on the other hand they very good attacking tools as proven by the amount of bladed attacks that are commited each day in the uk alone with not many of the victims over powering them and gaining the upper hand so as attack is the best form of defence i don't think you'd really want to just pull a blade and stand there waving it thinking they going to run away and leave you alone i think more like chasing them and wanting to stick the blade up there arse so they'd think twice about attacking some innocent person again
lol you sound worse than them. Don't throw your life away over some thugs.
You're underestimating the situation anyway, a group fighting for their lives is a formidable thing, you'll be disarmed and beaten to a pulp way worse than without the knife. Carrying a knife is a good way to improve your chances of getting stabbed.
after been attacked by a knife wielding loon in manchester nearly 30 years ago and touch an go as to if i was going to survive i decided when i recovered i wasn't going to be a victim again and had intensive training in armed and unarmed defence but now with the onset of age and illness my body is not the temple it used to be lol but ive still got my marbles although a blade wouln't be my weapon of choice i won't say no more on the subject take care an once again ellie an lewis i wish you well

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Trace18 says...
9:22am Sun 6 Jan 13

hope you can both recover from this, they should of been cctv but how can people do these things to others they are animals and shouldnt be allowed on this earth hope they catch the men before they attack again!

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Hoofarted says...
9:42am Mon 7 Jan 13

This is terrible and my heartfelt good wishes of recovery go out to them both.

This is not a political story and yet again oi oi savaloy manipulates it onto one. If anyone is to blame, this stems more from central governments policies rather than the councils.

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hikerman says...
10:54am Mon 7 Jan 13

James Alexander York streets are not safe day or night i will not go into York at night i can look after my self doing martial arts for years walking down Micklegate frightens me you always get Id'iots wanting a go hit them i would be locked up so much for self-defence so my advice to Lewis and Ellie stay out of town.

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Mr E Woman says...
12:09pm Mon 7 Jan 13

I hope both recover well.

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alfie says...
2:11pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Some men nowadays don't care if your male or female. I hope lewis and elle recover ok.

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TerryYork says...
3:28pm Mon 7 Jan 13

As York people we need to work something out. There is not enough police and York is seen as a soft touch to scumbags from places like Leeds and Hull.

We need some sort of extra "force" to do something, but of course it would be deemed illegal as the law is always in favour of the criminal.

I wish there was something we could do, be it organised between large York groups, such as York City supporters or whatever, on the look out for trouble.

It is hardly a deserted area where these two were walking.

Personally, if I had seen it, I'd of waded in. No mercy to these c**ts.

And to all you morons bringing the council leader into this... P--s off Tory Boys.

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south bronx red 2 says...
8:09pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Its not Leeds or Hull.
Try most muppets getting the late trains north.
There are enough police they choose to ignore gangs of people and the constant breaches of the peace ...... 'because they are partying'.
But you can always find 10 to 20 police on ot around Bootham when York are at home.

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south bronx red 2 says...
8:15pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Just report drunks and gangs as football fans and they'll be 20 police down like a shot to dish it out.
Where as the 20 or so at York City are rubbing their hands in the overtime , some being directly supplied by the club.
Time to have extra police funded by city center pubs paying for it, making the drunken hoards.

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HPSauce says...
10:22pm Mon 7 Jan 13

Hopefully Lewis and Ellie recover fully, I was attacked on the very same stretch about 4 years ago. Heard someone running behind me so I turned around and then was headbutted in the mouth and nose area 4 times in quick succession.

As Ellie says, no CCTV so didn't even bother to report it to the police as I knew they couldn't do anything. No witnesses, nothing.

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