Property mogul Fergus Wilson offers reward after mob attack pensioners at 70th birthday party
00:01, 28 April 2018
A property tycoon has offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to prosecution after OAPs were attacked at a 70th birthday party.
A rampaging mob of up to nine men forced their way through a locked door to get into the Ashford International Sports and Social Club in Beaver Road earlier this month.
Now millionaire landlord Fergus Wilson, 69, has stumped up the reward after the terrifying attack left guests with swollen noses, black eyes and cut faces.
Mr Wilson said: "In various times in the past, I have put up rewards and on the whole they have worked.
"You cannot have 70-year-old ladies being pushed to the ground and for their guests to be punched by yobs.
"Enough is enough and something has got to be done."
One party-goer said the pensioner celebrating her milestone birthday was shoved to the ground during the attack on Saturday, April 14, which left guests "crying and shaking".
It happened at about 10.30pm as the gathering was in full swing.
Police detained two men at the scene, arresting a 25-year-old man from Harrietsham on suspicion of assault and a 35-year-old man from Bethersden on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
Both have been released pending further inquiries.
Following the arrests, guests were kept in the club for about an hour as officers took photos of their injuries.
Pensioners aged up to 90 years old and babies were among those in attendance.
Managers at the club - which was open as usual following the incident - provided CCTV footage to police.
Mr Wilson added: "This sort of incident seems to be on the rise throughout Kent.
"Seventy-year-old ladies cannot be expected to hire their own security guards for a party.
"I was born during the baby boom in August 1948 just a few months after the lady who was celebrating her birthday - I am a big, strong lad even at 70, but not everybody is."