A PUB landlord was last night being sought by police following an assault on a woman inside an East Oxford pub.

Rick Windell, who runs the Hobgoblin in Cowley Road, has not been seen since the incident on Tuesday evening.

Police said they want to speak to the 42-year-old in connection with the assault and have appealed for help to find him.

Officers were called to the pub, which is on the corner of Bullingdon Road, at about 9.45pm.

The victim, who has not been named, is believed to have suffered a bruised jaw in the attack and is recovering at home.

Police spokesman Chris Kearney said: “We know there were people in the pub at the time who would have witnessed the assault and we would appeal to them to come forward and speak to us as soon as possible.”

Efforts were being made last night to try to find Mr Windell, who has run the Hobgoblin for three-and-a-half years.

Mr Kearney confirmed officers believe he may have left the country and urged him to contact police.

The Oxford Mail called Mr Windell’s mobile phone yesterday, but he did not pick up our calls.

In September, Mr Windell, who has also run pubs in Manchester, Sheffield and London for the last 14 years, was threatened with a gun and robbed while cashing up in the pub.

Two masked men broke into the bar and stole £16,000 in the attack. Nobody has ever been charged in connection with the incident.

Anyone with any information about Tuesday’s incident is urged to call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.