Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a shop manager was assaulted by a suspected shoplifter in Bletchley.

The incident happened on Monday 14 September at about 1.30pm outside Cash Converters in Queensway. The manager of Home Bargains chased after a suspected shoplifter outside the store and stopped the offender. An altercation took place and the offender was joined by another man who then assaulted the victim with a metal implement he had is his hand.

The manager of the shop sustained injuries to the back of his head and was treated at Milton Keynes General Hospital.

The second offender is white with short hair and was wearing jeans with a light blue top underneath a black jacket.

A 27-year-old man, from Granby Court, Bletchley, was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and is currently on police bail pending further investigation.

PC Isen Wharton, leading the investigation, said: “This incident happened during a busy lunch time in the middle of Bletchley town centre. We know there were lots of people who saw the assault and we need these people to contact us to try and help identify the second offender and to get a better idea of exactly what happened.”

If you have any information about this incident, please contact PC Wharton at Milton Keynes police station via the 24-hour non-emergency number, 0845 8 505 505. If you do not want to speak to the police, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can also give information to the police in person by visiting any police station. To find out the opening times and location of your local station please call 0845 8 505 505