Search for Nic Cruwys suspect moves to Shropshire
Police investigating the assault on Watford fan Nic Cruwys have turned their attention to Shropshire in a bid to trace one of the men still yet to be identified.
Detectives investigating the attack, which left the 44-year-old father with potentially life changing injuries, believe the suspect may well be from Telford and have widened their search area to try and locate the young man.
Nic, who is currently awaiting a placement at a specialist rehabilitation unit, received a serious head injury after he was set upon in Wolverhampton by a group of men on 7 March, following a game between Wolves and Watford.
Taken to hospital with life threatening injuries, Nic's condition has slowly improved but his family say he faces a long road to recovery and could be left with a lasting brain injury.
Detectives investigating the assault released the latest CCTV image earlier this month − but have now widened the search area Shropshire.
Twelve teenagers, men and boys from the West Midlands have already been arrested over the assault and are currently on bail while inquiries continue − the latest arrest came on 10 May when a 16-year-old from Sedgley was detained on suspicion of violent disorder. The teen was later bailed pending further enquiries.
Detective Sergeant Adam Keen said: "Understandably, this assault is having a huge impact on Nic's wife and children and they are still trying to adjust to life without Nic at home.
"While they remain hopeful he will recover fully from his injuries, there is the possibility he will suffer a lasting brain injury and this long term uncertainty is obviously extremely worrying for them.
"With this in mind, we'd urge the man in the CCTV image to do the right thing and come forward. Our enquiries lead us to believe that he may be from the Telford or wider Shropshire area and we are urging local people to contact us with any information about his identity.
"I can assure him that this matter will not go away. Similarly, if anyone recognises him, please don't protect him out of some misguided sense of loyalty - we need to know who he is."
Anyone who knows the identity of the man should contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
UPDATED
Police in Wolverhampton investigating the assault on Watford fan Nic Cruwys, have received a call from a man who has identified himself as the person in the latest CCTV image released by officers yesterday.
A 20-year-old man called police to say the picture shown was of him and he will be spoken to later by officers investigating the assault.
Detective Inspector Toni Naylor, who is leading the inquiry, said: “As a result of police releasing the image of a man we wanted to identify in relation to the assault on March 7 in Wolverhampton, a man telephoned officers in Wolverhampton last night and we will be speaking to him later today.
“The investigation remains on-going and I would urge anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, confidentially on 0800 555 111.”
*We have removed the CCTV images relating to this article now the man has come forward.
