Seven arrested after brawl leaves Brighton man seriously injured

Seven men have been arrested after a man was left with life-threatening head injuries in what is believed to be an unprovoked attack in Trinity Street, Brighton, in the early hours of this morning.

Police found the 20-year-old man from Bevendean walking in Popes Folly, near Lewes Road, with serious head injuries, after receiving an emergency call from a member of the public.

It is believed the victim may have been assaulted with a belt buckle. The victim was taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, where he was treated for potentially life-threatening injuries, and has been transferred to the Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre, Haywards Heath.

Police sealed off a section of Lewes Road this morning and conducted a search of the area.

They arrested a group of seven men, all in their early twenties, on suspicion of GBH. The men are currently in custody awaiting interview.

Sergeant Vanessa Britton said: “We are in the early stages of this investigation and are appealing for anyone who was in the Lewes Road area at around 4am this morning and saw an altercation involving a large group of men to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999, quoting serial 123 of 18/2, or anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.