Pictures Released After Attack

2 February 2010, 11:38 | Updated: 2 February 2010, 12:17

Detectives still trying to piece together the movements of a man found with serious head injuries on Southampton Common back in November are releasing two pictures of him in the hope they may shock people into coming forward.

Nigel Price, aged 58 from the city was discovered by a member of the public on Southampton Common at just before 8am on Saturday November 14.

Officers are still trying to trace anyone who knows what happened to him.

It’s believed from the information police have he was most likely attacked sometime between 8.30 and 9.30pm

However they would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious on the Common between 8.30pm on Friday 13 and 8am Saturday, November 14.

He was left with a head injury which left him in a critical condition. He has only improved a little and is now semi-conscious but can not communicate properly with anyone and it’s not known if his condition will improve.

Detectives believe he may have been the victim of a homophobic attack.

Nigel is described as:

White

Slim build

He was wearing a checked shirt, blue jeans, a dark jacket with a lighter collar and dark shoes

It is know he was at the nearby Cowherds Pub until about 8.30pm on Friday but it is not known what happened after that led to the attack.

Detective Inspector Simon Baker who is leading the investigating said: “We really need to speak to anyone who saw the man after either on the Friday evening or during the early hours of Saturday morning. We are now almost certain he was assaulted and think it may well have been a homophobic attack. It’s likely early morning joggers and dog walkers will have been on the Common at this time and may have seen him. If so we need to hear from them as they could have vital information. He was found in the lower part of the Common near to Hill Lane and Cemetery Road. In particular we would like to trace three people seen around the covered reservoir part of the common at about 7am on the Saturday and two men seen talking to the victim around 8.50pm on the Friday evening. We believe one of them was of mixed race. All these people could hold important information and we would ask them to contact us. The victim can’t speak to us about what happened and is still in a semi-coma like state however we are doing all we can to find those responsible for this attack and bring them to justice. We hope the release of the two pictures will either shock someone into coming forward when they realise what happened to the Nigel or jog someone’s memory who may remember seeing him around the time it happened. I’d urge anyone with information to contact my team at Bitterne CID on 101, quoting Operation Levy, or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.”