(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The son of a prominent Tory MP and former deputy mayor was beaten up and left unconscious in a vicious attack by a "girl gang" in Leicester Square while security guards "looked on".
Tom Borwick, 27, and a female friend were attacked in the queue of KFC in a clash with three women which spilled out onto the pavement.
His mother, newly elected Kensington MP Victoria Borwick, a former deputy mayor to Boris Johnson, has called for more "safe havens" or places of safety to be set up in London after she told how her son had been pushed out of the fast food restaurant by the security guards and was then allegedly refused help by bouncers at the nearby Grosvenor Casino.
Borwick said: "What shook him most was that somewhere like KFC you don't expect the security guards to push you out into the street. They didn't want an altercation in their store.
"It's not like this was at 2am in some dark alley, it's a busy area. When he realised he was being attacked he ran to the casino next door, and again he thought he would be safe.
"The fact was that he couldn't find a place of safety. This sort of thing happens all the time, I don't want to make a fuss about this more than any other incident, it's all part of street crime. But when you go out in London you want to feel safe and you want your children to be safe."
She urged shops, bars and restaurants to sign up to the CitySafe Havens project which provide places of safety for people who feel they are in immediate danger.
She added: "Londoners and tourists alike have got to feel there's somewhere safe to go. "
She spoke out as Scotland Yard released CCTV images of two women suspected to be involved in the attack at 9.45pm on June 27.
Borwick, a computer app writer, had been with a group of friends in the queue when they became involved in a row with three women who were complaining about a lack of space.
He told police one woman began jostling him and kicking his legs and then launched an unprovoked attack on him after he got his food.
One of the women started punching and shouting at him until he was held by security staff and pushed him onto the pavement as the attack continued.
Borwick alleges that the security staff ignored his pleas for help while they watched him being punched.
He says he ran to the rope barrier at the Grosvenor Casino and called out "Help! I am being attacked." After briefly being allowed to stay behind the barrier, he claims bouncers then moved him back onto the street where the group of women continued their attack.
Borwick, who has had heart surgery in the past, suffered heart palpitations as he tried to protect a girlfriend but collapsed to the ground where he was kicked and punched in the head.
The pair were taken to hospital and treated for cuts and bruising before being released.
The three suspects were aged in their twenties or thirties. One was wearing black clothing, one a royal blue dress and the third a white dress.
A KFC spokesman said: "Our security guards stepped in to break-up the altercation in the restaurant, which unfortunately then continued outside.
"We are extremely sorry for what happened to Thomas and we have been in contact with him to explain how we are investigating the matter.
"Since the incident, we have met with the police along with our security partners and as a result we have updated our policy so that our security personnel are better equipped to deal with cases where there is deemed a risk to an individual outside the restaurant."
Grosvenor Casino were unavailable for a comment.
lA resident of a hospice has died after an arson attack which caused 31 people to be evacuated in the early hours.
A 67-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fire at St Michael's Hospice in St Leonards, East Sussex, which police are treating as deliberate.
Emergency services were called to attend the blaze at the hospice at 12.50am today which was declared a major incident leading to 23 residents and nine patients being evacuated.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "One of the residents, a woman, has since died.
"It is not clear at this stage whether her death is linked to the fire and an investigation is under way.
"A 67-year-old St Leonards man, who is known to the hospice, has been detained on suspicion of arson."
Chief inspector Paul Phelps said: "This is an extremely difficult time for the residents and staff of St Michael's Hospice and for the family of the resident who has sadly passed away.
"For the emergency services the initial priority was to contain the fire and ensure the safety of staff and residents within the premises.
"Everyone was evacuated safely. Ten residents were taken to the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, with two treated for smoke inhalation and the others for nursing care.
"The remainder are being looked after in three nursing homes, and one resident was able to go home.
"We have detained a man on suspicion of arson and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this."
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