POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 50 year old man suffered a broken jaw after being assaulted in Stoneys restaurant, Castle Street, Cirencester, on Saturday.

He was on the dance floor with a friend between 11pm and 11.30 pm, when he received a slap to his head, and was then punched several times in the face, by one or more men.

The men then left the scene.

Paul Spurr, owner of Stoneys said that he is a good friend of the man that was assaulted and he is shocked by the incident.

He said: “My friend is very well known in the town and he would do anything for anybody. He is a very nice bloke - he would do anything for anybody. All my other friends are as shocked as anyone.

“My friend is quite a big lad and the person that assaulted him bit off more than he could chew.

“Generally the age groups we have in on a Saturday is 25 to 30. It is all cheesy music and laid back and relaxed atmosphere. We have never had any trouble in here since we have opened.”

Mr Spurr added that following the incident he is considering signing up to the Cirencester Behave or Be Banned (BOBS) scheme, which allows landlords to ban troublemakers.

He said: “We will make a decision in the coming weeks.”

Since the assault occurred on a busy dance floor, police believe that it must have been seen by others and would like anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident reference number 86 of June 22 or crime number CR/14283/15.