Second arrest made over brutal attack
A SECOND arrest has been made after a brutal race hate attack in Rochdale.
Rugby player Matthew Hayden was left with a bleed on the brain and a fractured skull after he was hit by a car, then smashed over the head with a golf club in the early hours of Saturday (June 2) in Littleborough. The 17-year-old was a passenger in a black Vauxhall Corsa, when it was rammed by a black Nissan Micra at the roundabout on Smithy Bridge Road near Hollingworth Lake.
When Matthew got out of the car, the driver of the Micra drove into him, flipping him over the bonnet and roof.
The engineering apprentice was then subjected to a brutal attack with a nine iron.
Matthew’s friend and fellow rugby player Josh Jones, 18 – the driver of with a metal object.
Police said they are treating the attack as a hate crime, as the offenders were heard shouting racial abuse at the victim and his friends.
Detectives investigating the incident have now made two arrests.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a section 18 assault and remains in police custody for questioning.
A 19-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault on Wednesday has been released under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8441, or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.