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Sussex Police Seek Man After Homophobic Assault Outside Chichester Nightclub
An 18-year-old man needed hospital treatment after being pushed, headbutted and assaulted outside a Chichester nightclub in an incident police are treating as a homophobic hate crime.
Sussex Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to as part of their investigation. The assault happened in South Street, outside Rapscallions Club, between 3am and 4am on 1 October, after the victim had been on a night out with a friend.
What police say happened in South Street
According to Sussex Police, the teenager was with a friend when they were approached by two men outside Rapscallions Club. One of the men is said to have behaved aggressively before the victim was assaulted.
Police said the 18-year-old was pushed, headbutted and further assaulted. His injuries were serious enough to require hospital treatment.
The incident is being investigated as a suspected homophobic hate crime. That means officers are looking at whether hostility or prejudice linked to sexual orientation played a part in the attack.
The force has now shared an image of a man they wish to speak to. Police are not saying the man has been charged or convicted. At this stage, they want to identify and speak to him as part of their enquiries.
Description of the man police want to speak to
Sussex Police have described the suspect as being of a large build, with dark brown hair and dark clothing.
The victim also reported that the man may have said he was from North Wales.
Officers are asking anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image, or anyone who was in the area at the time, to come forward. Even small details may help, especially given the time of the incident and the location outside a venue.
People who were in South Street between 3am and 4am on 1 October may have seen the group before, during or after the attack. Others may have dashcam footage, phone footage, taxi footage or doorbell camera recordings from nearby streets.
Police say hate crime will be taken seriously
District Commander Chief Inspector Kay Hutchings described the assault as unprovoked and said the force understands how difficult reporting hate crime can be.
“This was an unprovoked assault in Chichester city centre which left the victim shaken and requiring hospital treatment. “We take reports of hate crime seriously. Hate has no place in our communities. We understand that reporting it can sometimes be difficult, but we continue to encourage anyone impacted by hate crimes to report them to Sussex Police. “We are continuing to work with partner agencies in Chichester to further support victims of crime.”
Her comments point to two parts of the police response. The first is the criminal investigation, including identifying the man pictured and gathering evidence. The second is support for people affected by hate crime, both through policing and local partner agencies.
Hate crime can have an impact beyond the immediate victim. It can leave people feeling unsafe in places they should be able to enjoy freely, including town centres, nightlife venues and public spaces.
Why witness information can matter
Incidents outside late-night venues can unfold quickly. People nearby may not realise they have seen something useful, especially if the area was busy or the assault happened after a night out.
Police may be interested in information such as:
A man matching the description in or near South Street before the assault
Any comments made during the incident
The direction the men went afterwards
Mobile phone, dashcam or CCTV footage from the area
Details from taxi drivers, door staff or passers-by
No one should try to identify or approach a suspect themselves. Information should be passed to police so officers can assess it properly.
The appeal also matters because hate crime investigations often rely on context. The words used, the behaviour shown before an attack and the way a victim was targeted can all become relevant.
How to contact Sussex Police
Anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image, or who has information about the assault outside Rapscallions Club, should contact Sussex Police and quote serial 1307 of 01/10.
That reference number helps police link new information to the correct investigation.
Reports can also be made by people who did not witness the assault but may have relevant footage or information from the area at the time. This could include nearby residents, business owners, drivers, venue staff or people leaving other late-night premises in Chichester city centre.
This appeal is centred on a serious assault on a young man who was left injured and shaken. The next step is simple: if you know anything that could help, pass it to Sussex Police using the investigation reference.
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