A PUB landlord suffered more than 100 cuts, bruises and bumps to his head after being “beaten to a pulp” by customers who refused to hand back their pint glasses.

Steve Andrews was punched, kicked and glassed by three men after asking the group, which also included a woman, to hand back glasses they had taken from his Newhaven pub.

The 55-year-old landlord required stitches to his ears, lost a tooth and had an overnight stay in hospital following the brutal and unprovoked attack.

An appeal has now been launched to try and find the culprits.

The incident happened at about 10.20pm on Saturday when a group of three men and a woman were seen heading to a silver BMW in the car park of The Ark in Newhaven’s West Quay with their pint glasses in hand.

Mr Andrews’ 22-year-old son Jack first approached the group to ask them to hand over the glasses which was met with an aggressive verbal response by one of the men.

Steve then went out to the car park to ask for the glasses back but was set upon by all three men who rained down a series of punches and kicks before leaving him lying prone in the car park.

Landlady Penny Payne said: “It was a totally unprovoked attack, it shows up on the CCTV camera that Steve actually steps away from them.

“They were getting into the car with the glasses, Steve asked them to give them back and then all of them got out of the car and attacked him.

“They hit him, knocked him to the floor and glassed him, they didn’t say anything at all.

“Jack came running and phoned the police and they came and collected all the evidence, there was blood everywhere.

“Steve has had sutures to both his ears and some to his head, he’s got 100 marks on his head, there are eggs all over his head and he’s got a cut under his eye and a tooth knocked out.

“We’ve been here since November and this is the first incident we’ve had, it’s just unbelievable.”

Customers and fellow landlords have rallied round the pub following the incident, offering their support on Facebook.

The attackers are believed to be local with one man described as 6ft 7inches tall, ginger and very slim, a second man muscular with dark hair, a third called himself Ash.

All three are believed to be in their late 20s to 30s.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial number 1459 of 30/5 or call The Ark direct on 01273 517808 and ask for Penny.