A man brutally assaulted in a homophobic attack says he is leaving the area because of the trauma.

Peter Clark, from Alderley Edge, was picked on because of his sexuality before being beaten by Andrew Richard Duncan from Macclesfield.

The 31-year-old was punched to the ground then kicked so hard that his ear was almost ripped from his head outside the Alderley Edge Bar and Grill in July.

In the months following the attack Mr Clark lost 20lbs in weight and was too frightened to walked down the street alone.

Last week Duncan, 44, from London Road South, Poynton, was found guilty of the assault in his absence by Macclesfield magistrates.

Mr Clark, a barman at De Trafford Arms, said he feels the only way to rebuild his life is to move away.

He said: “Alderley Edge used to be my home.

“It was safe, I had friends and a job I loved. That night changed everything for me. I’ve quit my job and I’m moving away to start again.

“The assault was bad for me physically and mentally. I lost a lot of weight and felt very vulnerable. 

“It took me a while to be able to walk through the village on my own again.

“I was terrified at the thought of seeing him again.”

Liverpool-born Mr Clark moved to Alderley Edge four years ago.

The court heard he was on a night out with a friend on July 13 when Duncan began verbally abusing them. When neither Mr Clark or his friend responded Duncan attacked them.

Mr Clark said: “It happened so quickly. It was a blur. He came at me with a horrific level of force. It was a like a hammer to the head. The kick almost ripped my ear off.”

Mr Clark needed stitches to reattach his ear and suffered headaches for weeks afterwards.

His jaw was so badly injured he could not eat properly for a month.

Duncan pleaded guilty to the assault at a hearing on September 21, but magistrates ordered a new hearing because some of the details of the case were disputed.

However, Duncan failed to appear at court on December 16 and he was found guilty in his absence.

An arrest warrant has been issued.