A MAN was punched to the ground after he tried to defend a woman being attacked by a man insisting she go home with him.

The gallant witness had seen the woman arguing with a man outside of a bar in east London in the early hours of the morning when police said the suspect became "physically aggressive" towards the woman.

1 Police are now searching for the man believed to be responsible for punching another man to the ground in Hoxton Square Credit: Metropolitan Police

The witness, a 44-year-old man, then decided to step in but was punched in the face by the man who had been arguing with the woman.

The witness fell backwards onto the floor outside the Hoxton Square bar in Shoreditch, suffering from cuts to his chin and to the back of his head.

Police are now searching for the man and woman who were involved in the argument about 1.30am on Saturday October 5.

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Police have released a photograph of the suspect, appealing for the public's assistance.

Detective Constable Vicki Henderson, from Hackney CID, said: "This is a brutal attack on a man coming to the rescue of a woman after a night out.

"We are keen to identify the man shown in the CCTV footage so we can speak to him about the incident. We would also urge anyone who witnessed the assault to contact us."

The suspect is described as a black man, aged in his early 30s, 5ft 10ins tall and of medium muscular build.

He was wearing a beige jacket and black jeans. He was also carrying a black bag.

The woman he was arguing with was white with long dark hair.

She was wearing a black and white top.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information or any witnesses are urged to call police via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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