STITCHES across his face and a broken wrist – that was the price for helping two vulnerable women who were being pestered outside an Ipswich night spot.

By Georgina James

STITCHES across his face and a broken wrist – that was the price for helping two vulnerable women who were being pestered outside an Ipswich night spot.

Knight in shining armour Matthew Smith suffered deep slash wounds to his face when he was attacked with a glass outside Brannigan's nightclub in Cardinal Park.

Today the 31-year-old Ipswich man is still shocked and surprised by the unprovoked attack that left him with serious facial injuries.

"The attack came completely out of the blue. I didn't see it coming and definitely didn't expect it or deserve it.

"I wasn't after any trouble. I just went over to help two girls who looked like they were being bothered," said Mr Smith.

He continued: "Two girls were looking at me as though they needed help and wanted rescuing.

"I went over to speak to them to see if they were ok and these two men had a go at me and told me to go away."

The two foreign men tried to get Mr Matthews to leave the area by pushing him away, but he refused and stood his ground.

"I told them not to push me and I continued to talk to the girls," he said.

Mr Matthew says as he asked the larger of the two men to leave the girls alone, the smaller one attacked him from behind with a pint glass.

"He swung around and smashed me in the face with the glass," said Mr Matthews.

"At the same time the other bloke punched me on the lip."

The vicious attack left Mr Matthews requiring hospital treatment which resulted in him having 25 stitches to his face.

He said: "They made a right mess of my ear. I suffered a big gash to my cheek and needed stitches in my face and neck.

"Also, as I feel to the ground, I landed on my wrist and broke it in two places."

The incident happened just after 1am on Wednesday. The victim had enjoyed a night out with friends at the popular Ipswich venue and was waiting for a taxi before the drama unfolded.

Although Mr Matthews does not regret going to the aid of the women, he just hopes the two men who assaulted him are caught.

Following the attack, the two women whose aid Mr Matthews had gone to helped him to his feet and called an ambulance for him. He was taken to Ipswich Hospital.

The attacker is believed to be in his 20s. He is described as of European appearance and spoke with a foreign accent and was wearing a white T-shirt.

Ipswich police are appealing for anybody who was in the area at the time of the incident or who witnessed the attack to contact Dc Phil Clare at Ipswich CID on 01473 383188