Police at The Copperfield in Gravesend after the attack

by Thom Morris

A man has been remanded in custody after an incident in a pub where chemicals were thrown in a pub diner's face and a fork stabbed in his back.

Dean Mayze, 25, of High Street, Strood appeared at virtual court in Medway, charged with grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm.

He was remanded to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on November 15 for a preliminary hearing.

The incident took place at The Copperfield, in Shorne, near Gravesend, on Sunday evening.

The alleged victim - 26-year-old Philip Turner, from Gravesend - remains seriously ill in intensive care.

Police said he was targeted when he refused to go outside and fight a man as he ate a meal with his girlfriend.

It is alleged the attacker sprayed a household substance - believed to be used for cleaning - in his face that caused burning and problems with breathing, before stabbing him in the back with a fork.

Mr Turner suffered swollen airways, leaving him choking for air, as well as burns to his face and eyes.

He was also left with stab wounds to his back and was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital.

Shocked diners spoke of their horror at witnessing the attack, which happened at the pub - popular for its Sunday carvery - at about 5.30pm.

One diner, who tended to the man, said the attacker pulled a squeezy bottle from his pocket before spraying it in the man's face.

She said: "The restaurant was absolutely ram-packed with people, families and children.

"People didn't know what was happening. They thought it was just a random attack.

"I think there was a bit of a kerfuffle and during that the guy was stabbed with a fork.

"We'd taken his top off because we didn't know what had been thrown at him and could see where the fork had gone in.

“He was choking and throwing up and his throat started to swell up because he'd swallowed some of it.

"It had splashed off him and hit other people. One woman was screaming 'it's hit my baby, it's hit my baby'.

"The first aider wasn't on hand so I tried to help him. but we didn't know what it was. I don't know how long it took for the ambulance to arrive, probably about 10 minutes but it seemed to take forever."