Mother says 'six men attacked' couple at Slug & Lettuce, St Albans

Melody Ann-Louise, from North Bushey, went out with friends for her partner’s birthday celebration at the Slug & Lettuce branch at Victoria Street, St Albans on March 5.

However she never expected that in less of an hour, the two would be leaving the area with a black eye, scratches and bruises across their body after being “outnumbered” by six men.

Melody Ann-Louise with her black eye

The ex-Metropolitan Police officer explained the conflict started after she was in the smoking area and noticed two girls arguing with two men who would not leave them alone.

Later on, her partner saw a guy acting suspiciously and believed he had spiked a drink - but Hertfordshire Constabulary says this was not reported to police at the time.

Melody Ann-Louise says that one man bottled her

A verbal altercation started between the six men and the couple, which spread to the outside smoking area and Ms Ann-Louise says she tried alerting bouncers, however they seemed to ignore the situation.

It resulted in her partner being held in a chokehold by one of the men and repeatedly punched, claims Ms Ann-Louise.

Melody's partner has many marks and scratches across his body

“They were covered in blood and I thought he was stabbed,” she said.

She also claims she was then pulled down after trying to break the fight, was stomped on, attacked and one man tried pulling down her dress and trying to steal her shoe.

In the end, she claims a bottle was smashed on her head, and she now has a cut around her eyebrows, a black eye and a small haemorrhage in the eye.

Police were at the scene and arrested two people after some fled, but they were later released with no further action due to “a lack of evidence”.

Melody's eyebrow was split open

Ms Ann-Louise said she felt "infuriated" that police initially gave up, but shortly after she spoke to the Observer and we reached out to the force, police said they are now calling for witnesses as "further information has since come to light".

She explained that she felt police did not carry out proper procedures or offer “victim care” noting how the two had to walk away in the rain despite their injuries and police did not take pictures of their injuries for record.

Slug & Lettuce in St Albans

She said: “They should have swabs under their nails. How is anything is meant to go to court if they say ‘oh CCTV doesn’t show who started it’?”

Now calling for witnesses, Detective Inspector Adrian Lysak said: “We are now working to build a full picture of the events that took place on the night.

"Initial enquiries have resulted in a lack of sufficient evidence, so we are now asking the public for their assistance."

He added: “We take all reports of drink spiking seriously and would advise anyone who thinks they may have been spiked in any way to please report it at the earliest opportunity, so that as much evidence as possible can be gathered.”

Information can be reported through the non-emergency number 101, quoting 41/18059/22 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestopers-uk.org.