The 20-year-old son of former councillor and Albury police officer Lynda Summers had facial reconstruction surgery at the Albury hospital on Saturday, a week after he was assaulted in an unprovoked attack during a night out.

“Jake is out of hospital and the surgery was, from all reports, a success,” Ms Summers said yesterday.

“He has a metal plate in his face and will have for life but, as the surgeon best put it, he put the jigsaw back together.”

Jake was walking in Dean Street with friends between 1am and 2am last Saturday (March 29) when he mistook a passer-by for a friend, said hello before apologising. He was punched from behind as he walked away.

The punch caused multiple fractures in his face and Ms Summers said it would take up to nine months to tell whether nerve damage he suffered was permanent.

Albury police Inspector Tony Moodie said yesterday investigators had leads in their search for Jake’s attacker and were reviewing closed-circuit television footage.

Insp Moodie said no witnesses had come forward since Ms Summers’ appeal in The Border Mail on Saturday and he urged those people who saw the assault to contact police.

He said there were eight police on patrol in central Albury at the time.

Other parents who have experienced similar violence have shared their experiences on The Border Mail’s website and Facebook page.

“I, too, have had this done to my son. Feel so much for the family,” one wrote.

“Not only do they suffer physically, but emotionally also. My son now suffers post traumatic stress due to the assault.”

Ms Summers said Albury should adopt Newcastle’s solutions that involved 1am lock-outs, 3am closures and a ban on shots after 10pm.

“I’ve been working up there for 12 to 18 months and I don’t feel the same alcoholic vibe that there is here,” she said.

“Grog is not on the street. The grog is behind closed doors — it’s just not as in-your-face.

“There’s no problem with young people going out and having a good time, but it’s this accessibility of alcohol.”

She urged people to report assaults, raising concerns the crime was under reported — “there’s often a gap between what’s happened and what’s reported,” she said.

“Unless they’re reported, there’s no impetus on the state doing something about it.”

• Anyone with information on the attack on Jake is urged to phone Albury police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.