Ferit Olmez was originally from Turkey and had emigrated to Scarborough to work for the family business – a town centre Turkish restaurant.

Unfortunately when he was out celebrating his birthday in September 2008 he was the victim of a brutal and unprovoked attack where he lost his front teeth in a local nightclub.

His brother, Muhlis Olmez, contacted the paper and, as the crime reporter, I was sent out to speak to them. The portraits were taken on the office compact camera, or maybe a mobile phone, in the restaurant as I recall.

The graphic picture showing his injuries was submitted by the family and they were taken shortly after the incident. I think it was converted to black and white to make them not quite as shocking but I was still surprised that it got used on the front page.

Despite the best efforts of the police they could not get enough evidence to charge a suspect and, unfortunately, I did not get any further through the archive to see if there were any further updates.

Having said that I regularly used to see Muhlis around town and I did go to the restaurant with my in laws for a meal and the food was very good.

THIS is the bloody aftermath of an unprovoked and racially motivated attack in a Scarborough nightspot.

Ferit Olmez was celebrating his 29th birthday when the incident happened.

The victim says his attacker first barged into him deliberately for no reason – knocking him backwards, and then grabbed him by the throat, insulted him in explicit racial terms, before punching him hard in the mouth – knocking out all his front row teeth.

He will require extensive dental treatment for the rest of his life. Mr Olmez, of Victoria Road, said: “I was confused and in shock. I can’t remember anything after being hit.”

The restaurant worker said he had only been in the club for about an hour with one of his friends and had just had a couple of drinks.

Mr Olmez said his companions looked for police officers in the town centre before going to the police station for help.

He said: “They took my name and address and said that I should go to the hospital.”

The attack took place inside Boleyn’s Nightclub, in St Thomas Street.

The victim’s mouth and hands were covered in blood and he had also suffered whiplash to the neck.

He eventually returned home at 3.15am and, six days later, was still recovering from his injuries.

A dentist has since estimated it will cost somewhere between £8000 and £12,000 to reconstruct his teeth.

Mr Olmez and his companions believe his attacker was dressed similarly to club doormen.

Mr Olmez said: “I am still a bit dizzy and speaking is difficult. I feel self-conscious because I have lost my teeth. I get headaches, my neck is sore and I sometimes get blurred vision.

“I won’t go there any more and, because I am scared, I don’t go out any more.

“The club is for all the public and it should be safe.”

A spokesman for Scarborough Police said officers were investigating the serious assault which was being treated as “racially motivated”.

He said: “A friend initially took the injured man to Scarborough Police Station where the incident was logged for immediate investigation. He was then sent to Scarborough Hospital for urgent medical attention.

“Following inquiries, police are treating the incident as a racially-motivated assault. Investigations are ongoing to identify a suspect. This includes analysing any closed-circuit TV footage from the nightclub.”

When the Evening News approached Boleyn’s nightclub about the incident, which happened at around 1.10am on Sunday, a spokesman said CCTV footage was awaiting collection by the police and he was unable to make any comment.

It is not known whether the footage will show the incident.

Police are appealing for anyone who was at the club at the time of the attack, or who has any information about the incident, to contact officers.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Friday, September 19, 2008.

Racist attack man’s teeth ‘could have been saved’

FOUR teeth which were knocked from a Turkish restaurant worker’s mouth could have been saved if someone had called him an ambulance, it has been claimed.

Police are studying CCTV footage of an alleged racially motivated and unprovoked attack inside a Scarborough nightclub.

Turkish restaurant worker Ferit Olmez, of Victoria Road, Scarborough, lost his four front teeth after he was attacked in Boleyn’s in St Thomas Street earlier this month.

The 29-year-old, who has lived in the UK for the past two and a half years to work in his family-run business, now faces extensive reconstructive dental work and the bill has been estimated at up to £12,000.

He was celebrating his birthday with one of his friends when a man barged into him at about 1.10am on Sunday, September 14.

And he says when he challenged the man he was grabbed by the throat, racially insulted and punched in the mouth.

The victim was given first aid treatment by members of staff before being advised to go to Scarborough Hospital for further treatment.

Despite being in shock and suffering from whiplash, due to the force of the punch, Mr Olmez and his friend managed to report what had happened to police officers who, after taking his details, also advised him to go to hospital.

But, speaking on behalf of the victim, his brother Muhlis Olmez said no-one offered to call for an ambulance.

He said: “They didn’t call for an ambulance but they should have called for an ambulance. He had a serious injury and had lost four teeth. They have a radio and could have called for one.”

Mr Olmez added that if his brother’s lost teeth could have been found and he was taken to hospital within one hour then doctors had said there was a chance they could have put them back into his mouth.

Since the attack Mr Olmez has been in a lot of pain and has to eat through a straw because he cannot chew his food properly.

He has been scared to go out and feels self-concious about his lost teeth.

His brother said: “If the paramedics had been there they would have had the teeth and been able to put them back in.”

No-one at Boleyn’s was available for comment on the incident.

Insp Mark Grange, of Scarborough Police, said his officers probably did not call for an ambulance because Mr Olmez was with a friend and had managed to walk to the police station on foot.

Police are appealing for anyone who was at the club at the time of the attack, or who has any information about the incident, to contact officers.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

Race attack: Police closing in on arrest

DETECTIVES investigating what has been described as a racially motivated attack in a Scarborough nightclub are hoping to make an arrest.

A Scarborough Police spokesman said the investigation had produced a suspect but officers had so far been unable to arrest them.

Turkish restaurant worker Ferit Olmaz, 29, of Victoria Road, Scarborough, lost his four front teeth after he was attacked in Boleyn’s nightclub in St Thomas Street at 1.10am on Sunday, September 14.

The victim was given first aid treatment by members of staff before being advised to go to Scarborough Hospital for further treatment.

Police are appealing to anyone who was at the club at the time of the attack, or who has any information about the incident, to contact officers.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Saturday, October 11, 2008.

Brutal attack – no charges

THE victim of a brutal assault is considering making a formal complaint against police after charges were dropped against a suspected attacker.

Turkish restaurant worker Ferit Olmez, of Victoria Road, Scarborough, lost four front teeth after an incident inside Boleyn’s nightclub – and still requires up to £12,000 in dental surgery.

The 29-year-old said: “I am angry and upset. I want justice. How come they have not found the man who attacked me? I am not in pain any more but I don’t go out these days.”

Angry relatives criticised police for not calling an ambulance, claiming Mr Olmez’s teeth could have been saved.

The attack, which was unprovoked and allegedly racially motivated, happened when Mr Olmez was out celebrating his birthday last September.

He claimed a man barged into him at about 1.10am before he was grabbed by the throat, racially insulted and punched in the mouth. He was given first aid treatment by members of staff before being advised to go to Scarborough Hospital for further treatment.

Despite being in shock and suffering from whiplash due to the force of the punch, Mr Olmez and his friend managed to report what had happened to police officers who, after taking his details, also advised him to make his own way to hospital.

After the attack Mr Olmez suffered severe pain. He had to eat through a straw because he could not chew his food properly.

He has lived in the UK for the past three years after coming to this country to work for his family-run business.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed that a 24-year-old Driffield man, who was arrested in connection with the assault, had been released without charge.

“Police inquiries are ongoing and officers will continue to work closely with the management at the nightclub. CCTV footage obtained from the venue is also being reviewed,” he said.

“The victim has received regular updates and support from the police and he understands the nature of the investigation.”

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact Scarborough police.

From the Scarborough Evening News on Thursday, February 26, 2009.