DETECTIVES have released CCTV footage of a brutal attack in which a Flintshire worker who was celebrating his birthday was left badly injured.
Alex Kosuth-Phillips was celebrating his 23rd birthday when he was punched in an unprovoked attack which broke his jaw in two places.
He was unable to eat solid food for three months and now has a metal plate holding the bones together.
Officers, who have released these shocking images in an attempt to track down the attacker, say the victim has been left both physically and emotionally scarred.
Mr Kosuth-Phillips was in a pizza takeaway when his attacker walked into the shop and made an offensive comment.
CCTV footage clearly shows Mr Kosuth-Phillips backing away from his attacker who then delivers a jaw-breaking punch to his face.Mr Kosuth-Phillips, who works as an assistant manager at Domino’s Pizza in Saltney and lives in Handbridge, said: “It has all been a bit surreal in the past 48 hours and has brought back a lot of memories.
“I had been to Birmingham to see my girlfriend who goes to university there, and we went out for my birthday with a couple of friends.
“When we got to the pizza place, one of the blokes who was sitting inside said something to my girlfriend. When I asked him what he had said he just gave me a load of abuse and I decided to walk out.
“The last thing I remember is putting my hand on the door to go outside. Everything from then on is just a blur.
“I had an asthma attack at the QE Hospital and was rushed into emergency surgery at 5am.”
An ex-pupil of Castell Alun High School, Hope, the former Kinnerton resident added: “I lost two stone as a result of the attack.
“The screws from the plate in my jaw came loose and I couldn’t eat solids. I was malnourished and put on malnutrition watch.
“I’ve always been a really confident person, but for the first couple of months I just didn’t want to speak to people or go out anywhere. It was horrible.
“I feel much more like my old self again now but I don’t talk to as many people when I’m out and I am a bit more on my guard than I used to be.”
The victim added: “I’ve been back to the pizza place where it happened since and they have asked me how I am.
“Some of my friends find it quite really weird that I work in a pizza place myself, after all that has happened.
“It has been weird seeing footage of the incident and what happened to me. I just want the guy to be caught so I can draw a line under the whole thing and move on once and for all.”
DC Louise Corcoran, from West Midlands Police, said: “This was a serious unprovoked assault which left an innocent man knocked out cold and requiring surgery.
“The offender walked into the shop and made an offensive comment to him before hitting him in the face.
“It’s had a lasting effect on the victim, who has been left physically and emotionally scarred by the assault.
“We need to catch the person responsible and ensure justice is done.”
Still images were released as part of an appeal in May last year and officers have been following up numerous lines of inquiry ever since.
But despite extensive enquiries they are still no closer to finding the person responsible.
The attack happened outside Pizza Land in Selly Oak, Birmingham, where Mr Kosuth-Phillips had been celebrating his birthday on February 25 last year.
Officers have now taken the decision to release moving footage of the attack and are urging anyone who recognises the attacker to come forward.
Anyone with information should call West Midlands Police CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.