A YOUNG woman needed plastic surgery and almost lost her sight in one eye after a fun night out with a girl friend ended in a horror attack.

The 22-year-old student, who wishes to be identified only as Mel, had visited several town-centre pubs with her pal on Saturday, February 5, before the pair decided to round off the night at Nexus club in Westfield Street. But what had been a pleasant night out ended in agony for Mel when she was savagely attacked by a man after declining his offer to go outside.

Mel, who had been in the club for about two hours when the attack took place, told the Star: "At about 1.10am I went to the upstairs bar to get a drink and while I was there a man to my side started talking to me. He asked if I went to Nexus every week and said that he was in every weekend.

"Then he asked me if I wanted to go outside with him, But he seemed a bit arrogant and I started to get a bit nervous, so I said no and turned round to find my friend. The next thing I knew he had grabbed me by the back of my head and as he swung me around he grabbed a glass off the bar and thrust it up as he pushed my face on to it. "To my mind this man knew exactly what he was doing and he would probably do it again. I believe that he wanted to do as much harm as possible. He may even have wanted to blind me so that I couldn't identify him.

"It's hard to believe that anyone could do this to someone. I would urge anyone who may have any information which could help, to contact the police. It could stop him from doing this to someone else."

Mel, who had glass fragments in her eyes, was taken to Whiston Hospital where she received 13 stitches to her forehead and a couple of stitches in her right eye. At one point, surgeons feared she might lose an eye. Fortunately, however, she has made good progress and although part of the eye has been permanently damaged she still has some vision in the eye.

Sergeant Trevor Taylor from the licensing department at St Helens police station, said: "This was a cowardly, unprovoked attack. Mel was very lucky not to lose the sight in one of her eyes and this has been a terrifying ordeal for her. I would appeal to anyone who can help us with our inquiries to contact us as soon as possible. All calls will be treated in strictest confidence."

Mel's attacker is described as white, 5ft 8in to 6ft tall, with a pale complexion, blue eyes and black hair gelled into a slight Elvis-style quiff at the front. He was wearing a grey, short-sleeved shirt with white pinstripes and black trousers.

Anyone able to help police with their inquiries can contact Sgt. Taylor on 0151 777 6830, DS Tommy Wright on 0151 777 6053 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A LOCAL businessman has offered a £500 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mel's attacker.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.