Life will never be the same again for Dean De Freitas, after attack in The Cellar in Southampton

10:11am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Crime

Dean De Freitas Dean De Freitas

IT was supposed to be a fun night out to celebrate Christmas with friends, family and colleagues.

But for Dean De Freitas life will never be the same again after his Christmas party ended in violence.

The 47-year-old dad-of-six has been left blinded in one eye after an unprovoked and savage attack at a Southampton nightclub.

As reported by the Daily Echo yesterday, He was punched in the face which led to a brawl of about 30 people breaking out in the Cellar bar, formally the Soul Cellar.

Now police hunting for the thugs have released CCTV stills as they appeal for information.

Dean, a warehouse manager at Southampton docks, has undergone surgery at the specialist Eye Unit at Southampton General Hospital but has been told his left eye has ruptured and he has permanently lost the sight in it.

Speaking to the Daily Echo last night on his return from hospital in the lounge of his Totton home filled with three Christmas trees which he decorated with his children before the attack, Dean was on the verge of breaking down.

He said: “Life will not be the same again. It feels like there will be no Christmas this year.

What has happened is devastating and it still hasn’t sunk in.

This isn’t just Christmas, this is the rest of our lives these mindless idiots have ruined.” Dean had been out with workmates on Friday night before meeting up with his two sons Dean, 21, and Joe, 19, before going on to the Cellar bar.

But they had only been upstairs in the nightspot a matter of minutes when Dean was punched at around 3am. He said: “It is the first time I have really been out with my two oldest sons and it was going well.

“Then my son heard someone say ‘which one of you has the huff ?’ but all I remember is seeing a big bloke and his arm coming at me appearing out of nowhere. It was then just blank.

Like someone turned out the lights, bang, gone, nothing. I was blinded in one punch.

“I thought my eyeball was dangling out of my eye from the socket at one point.

“I didn’t fall to the floor, I just saw red. I lunged at him, kicking him and punching him. That is when loads more people appeared out of nowhere.”

Dean will return to hospital next week to find out whether doctors can save his eyeball or whether he may face the rest of his life with an artificial eye.

Dean said: “I feel that this was a racially-motivated attack. As I was waiting for a lift I saw one go off in a taxi and laugh at me.

“I think society is changing and we can’t keep on like this.”

Dean does not know whether he will be able to drive or when he will return to work.

He said: “What keeps me going is I remember a story once where I had a couple of hundred pounds and I was devastated because I lost half of it but I still had the other half in the other pocket so it wasn’t all bad. I have to keep positive for my family.”

  • If you recognise any of the people pictured in the CCTV images, or if you have any information about the attack, Call Det Con Gavin Jordan at Shirley CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

 

Comments(37)

bigfella777 says...
10:38am Wed 19 Dec 12

Such a nice fella, I used to work in a bar and Dean would come in , always buy a round and one for the barman.
Back in the Top Rank days Dean used to entertain every one with his dancing skills.
If you read this Dean, this might change you physically but you will always be a great guy, just bounce back up mate.

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Over the Edge says...
10:39am Wed 19 Dec 12

Grew up with Dean, he was a top bloke back in the day and to his credit has quietened down in recent years.

Town is rammed full of mindless idiots who's idea of fun is drinking and taking stuff and then starting a punch up.

Best of luck fella.

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MGRA says...
10:48am Wed 19 Dec 12

the only way this sort of thing will stop is if people who don't want trouble just stay out of Southampton after 11:30pm..... Then the city can be left to the illiterate chavs to maul each other..... problem is there seems to be an idea that spending time in the middle of the night with coke-heads and alcoholic thugs is "glamourous".

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Hdg end mo says...
10:51am Wed 19 Dec 12

Hope they catch the scumbags and jail them for a long period of time

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Walter K says...
10:52am Wed 19 Dec 12

Lots of posts on this subject describing how the victim has "quietened down" and "not like his reputation anymore".
Maybe there is more to this than is being reported?

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Likesadrink says...
11:00am Wed 19 Dec 12

Walter K wrote:
Lots of posts on this subject describing how the victim has "quietened down" and "not like his reputation anymore".
Maybe there is more to this than is being reported?
No, he got attacked by mindless idiots, all on CCTV. Probably racially motivated too. Used to be very punchy in his youth but he's 47 now, works hard and was out with his sons. You can see the sort of guy Deano is in his reponse, ie not going down and launching punches and kicks etc in response. I personally wouldn't want to be the person that did this to Dean, very well liked and respected bloke, especially at SFC.

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Walter K says...
11:06am Wed 19 Dec 12

Thanks for supporting the content of my previous post!

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arthur dalyrimple says...
11:09am Wed 19 Dec 12

in the cold light of day the man has to rebuild his life and good luck to him , drug soaked morons abound in southampton ,way past time they were stopped.

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bigfella777 says...
11:15am Wed 19 Dec 12

arthur dalyrimple wrote:
in the cold light of day the man has to rebuild his life and good luck to him , drug soaked morons abound in southampton ,way past time they were stopped.
You also have all these idiots on steroids now as well,the use of steroids worries me more than class A drugs, they make people have rages with crazy strength. Look at the big guy in the second picture,he should be easy to find as there are only a few gyms in southampton.
Some people are saying about Deans past should know that having different colour skin in the 70's was very different from how it is now and you either stuck up for yourself or got attacked.

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dacoo says...
11:19am Wed 19 Dec 12

worked with deano for a few years. top top guy, regardless of what is said about his past and what he was like in his youth. The guy is a gentle giant with a great personality, always helpful, friendly and approachable. I'd imagine the majority of people that have had the pleasure of knowing deano would agree.
Wishing you all the best buddy. lets hope the sub-human scum get caught and have the book thrown at them

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Likesadrink says...
11:34am Wed 19 Dec 12

Walter K wrote:
Thanks for supporting the content of my previous post!
Eh? You asked, and I quote: "I wonder if there is more to this than is being reported" I responded that no, it is all there on CCTV that he was attacked for no reason. That was exactly what was reported and is exactly what happened, the Police, witnesses and Bar management confirm this.
Please demonstrate where I have supported your original , ill judged preconceptions?

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rich the stitch says...
11:37am Wed 19 Dec 12

Surprised this happened in the cellar, normally get an older crowd without too many chavs and some decent music..no gangnam (if that's how you spell it) style cr@p.

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bigfella777 says...
11:42am Wed 19 Dec 12

rich the stitch wrote:
Surprised this happened in the cellar, normally get an older crowd without too many chavs and some decent music..no gangnam (if that's how you spell it) style cr@p.
They have changed it all round, different clientele and not for the better.
I liked the waggoners.

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Ted Rogers says...
11:57am Wed 19 Dec 12

All the best to Dean. If I were out with my sons and someone had said something to them I would find it difficult not to confront them.
This is the danger of expecting a degree of reason-ability,court
esy and humanity from charged up thugs.

'Back in the day' there will be a number of people that were on the wrong end of one of Dean's right hooks I'm sure - but that would have more likely to have been a more transparent case of 'fisticuffs' not a sneaky cheap shot.

With the current high levels of scum and general social degradation most city centres are places to be avoided for night outs.
Again I wish Dean all the best.

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Normandy says...
12:10pm Wed 19 Dec 12

With the camera images if these low life
live in or around Southampton they will be found.
All the best to Dean

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info@denisbundy.co.uk says...
12:18pm Wed 19 Dec 12

A message of hope and support for Dean - I have a very good friend who lost one of his eyes but continues to drive every day and do a testing job at the refinery. Some of you will remember that Gordon Banks lost an eye and continues to lead a full life. Good luck Deano, it is clear from many of the posts that you are a very well liked and respected man - most of us have stuff in our past we have long left behind. Get well soon and every blessing to you and your family.

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ToastyTea says...
12:20pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Makes me really bad reading this, scum who attack people for no reason make me feel sick (having been on the end of it myself in the past). I hope he manages to still enjoy Xmas and I hope they find the scum who did this.

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ToastyTea says...
12:20pm Wed 19 Dec 12

*sad (not bad) reading this.

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Over the Edge says...
12:25pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Walter K wrote:
Lots of posts on this subject describing how the victim has "quietened down" and "not like his reputation anymore".
Maybe there is more to this than is being reported?
I and a lot of other people who have commented have known Dean for a lot of years, everyone quietens down when they get older, I know I have, you cannot judge someone for what they did or didn't do 20-30 years ago, being a bit lad years ago doesn't make that person today.

This seems to be a case of young idiots out on the town getting punchy, just because someone says they didn't down and punched back doesn't mean anything other than the victim was not knocked out and tried to defend himself.

Dean is the victim of what appears to be a racially motivated unprovoked attack, he saw and tried to defend himself, I think you should remember, no one deserves to blinded in one eye just because the of the colour of their skin.

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killthrill says...
12:59pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Deans name and his families surname are well known in Southampton.. Karma's a ****.It's taken a long time for what comes around goes around..That saying i still wouldn't wish losing your eyesight on anyone..Cowards..Nee
d to be brought to justice..Filthy scum.

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Walter K says...
1:03pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Based on the skewed logic that some on here are using regarding the victims' own previous conduct and misdemeanours, we should all be extending mercy because the young aggressors in this case will also "grow up"?

OriginalSFC wrote:
Look the facts are that the night in question was organised and attended by some of the biggest football hoolies and drug dealers the city has known...
Can only assume the youngsters had no clue who they were surrounded by in there or who was who as if they did I can't for a minute believe this would have happened.”

I rest my case.

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TheJoiners says...
1:09pm Wed 19 Dec 12

His past has nothing to do with this. One of Southampton' finest. You will know who i am when you see this. Pop in before a Saints game.
If anyone will be smiling after an attack ike this its Dean, get well soon mush.

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gillyman says...
1:49pm Wed 19 Dec 12

ignore walter k probably thinks all black people deserve it i grew up with dean good lad who only got in trouble defending himself in the racially motivated old days nobody deserves this sort of injury be strong dean

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Mr. Cleanstreets says...
2:45pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Congrats Southampton, you are officially the biggest violent sh%^thole in the South. And before you say it, yes I live here and cannot wait to move the hell out.
Before you even think of telling me off, think about the headlines each and every day from this god forsaken place, nothing but murder, rape and all other forms of horrific violence, end of.
One of the only things that keeps my spirits up is the hope that my beloved Saints can continue in the top flight. Otherwise, I am sickened on a daily basis of how bad this city has become.

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T_O_T_T_O_N says...
3:14pm Wed 19 Dec 12

i can guarantee that his sons would of started the fight as per usual, then they run to there old man for back up!

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sotonboy84 says...
3:21pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Very sad story and wish him all the best in his recovery but don't see any evidence that points towards this being a racially provoked attack.

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chavfreezone says...
5:14pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Dean is a local legend.

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sotonbev says...
6:33pm Wed 19 Dec 12

I hope these scum bags get caught before Christmas and spend it locked up, it should be easy enough to find them especially the chav girl with the chav pink hair. Grow up, which you will once locked up you idiots

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deano40 says...
7:25pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Far from being a local legend, I have seen many instances of this man causing trouble in town.

As others have said..Karma!

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deano40 says...
7:27pm Wed 19 Dec 12

T_O_T_T_O_N wrote:
i can guarantee that his sons would of started the fight as per usual, then they run to there old man for back up!
Spot on.

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My boy says...
8:20pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Crazy stuff, If only the police and council weren't so clueless, they could have this scum locked up by now.

Clearly to busy trying to shut down the 'love hotel' in woolston....Someones priorities are SO SO wrong!

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noall69 says...
8:18am Thu 20 Dec 12

how is this racially motivated does this mean all the white people that dean has beat up in the past is racially motivated as well an as for bigfella777 what a tw@ so two faced if it has anyone diff it would be what goes a round comes a round very sad man

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saint63 says...
11:57am Thu 20 Dec 12

Known Dean for years, we all have a history but we mature, hope they get these idiots,wouldnt be surprised if the word is out to find them get well deano top man .

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Ted Rogers says...
1:39pm Thu 20 Dec 12

saint63 wrote:
Known Dean for years, we all have a history but we mature, hope they get these idiots,wouldnt be surprised if the word is out to find them get well deano top man .
So what you're saying then is that this altercation should simply form part of 'these idiots' histories and they should be allowed to mature as Dean has.
But you know that won't happen, they'll be found and there will be repercussions, is that mature?

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media8ter says...
4:16pm Thu 20 Dec 12

deano40 wrote:
T_O_T_T_O_N wrote:
i can guarantee that his sons would of started the fight as per usual, then they run to there old man for back up!
Spot on.
spot on x 2
this was not racially aggravated, nor is Dean the victim whatever the echo might say.....live by the sword and you may end up getting sliced by it........Karma's a **** aint it !! He's lucky he's still got one eye !!

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Leeathome says...
9:18pm Thu 20 Dec 12

I'm guessing that his son is the same as the one in this daily echo article:

http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/crime/94
03771.Jail_warning_a
fter_assault/

They seem to have bad luck in this family re assaults.

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arthur boutfaith says...
10:31am Fri 21 Dec 12

media8ter wrote:
deano40 wrote:
T_O_T_T_O_N wrote:
i can guarantee that his sons would of started the fight as per usual, then they run to there old man for back up!
Spot on.
spot on x 2
this was not racially aggravated, nor is Dean the victim whatever the echo might say.....live by the sword and you may end up getting sliced by it........Karma's a **** aint it !! He's lucky he's still got one eye !!
Bell end x 3

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