Witnesses sought after assault in Barnstaple

Devon and Cornwall Police have announced that police in Barnstaple are appealing for witnesses following the discovery of a man with head injuries.

The incident took place on The Strand, Barnstaple on the morning of Friday 2 August.

A 54-year-old man was found unconscious with head injuries behind Queen Anne’s Cafe just before 8.25am.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.

He has reported being assaulted by a man with a baseball bat, which is believed to have happened late on Thursday or in the early hours of Friday. 

The force have said enquiries are ongoing to identify a specific time.

The suspect has been described as a man in his 30s of skinny build. 

He was in the company of a woman with ginger hair.

Detective Sergeant Ben Cartwright said: “As part of the ongoing investigation, we are conducting witness and CCTV enquiries.

“We are appealing for anyone who may have seen an assault overnight on The Strand involving a weapon or the parties described or can recall seeing a man lying injured or unconscious behind Queen Anne’s Café over the night of Thursday 1 August into Friday 2 August.”

If you witnessed the incident or have any information or dashcam footage that could help with enquiries, please contact police via our website here or by calling 101 quoting crime reference 50240193217.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling freephone 0800 555111.