Dimitris Legakis after the assault on him in Midlesbrough.
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A FORMER Lord Mayor of Swansea is trying to mobilise support for a photographer whose immediate livelihood is under threat after being attacked in the street.
Dimitris Legakis, aged 40, was in Middlesbrough to photograph Swansea City's match there on December 17.
The night before he was in the city capturing some shots when he came across a car being vandalised.
As he took photos of the damage and called the police, the vandal attacked Mr Legakis, leaving him with injuries, including a broken arm, which means he should take six weeks off work. The situation was made worse for a freelance like him by the estimated £4,000 damage to his equipment.
image: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276352/binaries/883424.jpg
ABOVE: Former Lord Mayor of Swansea Ioan Richard is trying to help photographer Dimitris Legakis.
Now councillor Ioan Richard, who was Lord Mayor in 2011/12, is trying to get the Middlesbrough business community to chip in with a few donations to help him out.
"During my year of office Dimitris was a regular covering functions at the Mansion House and elsewhere and I struck up a working friendship with him," he said. "When I read in the Evening Post what happened to him I was appalled. So I rang Middlesbrough Council to see if they would ask the chamber of trade there to do a whip round to replace his damaged equipment. He was showing public spiritedness, defending the property of a MIddlesbrough resident."
Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd said: "I was very saddened to hear of the violent attack on Mr Legakis in Middlesbrough.
"Since Boro's promotion in May it feels like on the Monday after every home game visitors to the local fans' website Fly Me To The Moon post links to opposition supporters' sites reporting glowing praise for our town.
"I hope the attacker is brought to justice and that Mr Legakis makes a quick recovery and is not put off visiting Middlesbrough for future matches with Swansea.
"I would also support any efforts locally to help reimburse Mr Legakis for the cost of repairing or replacing his camera equipment."
Ross Smith, policy director of North East England Chamber of Commerce, said: "If we received a request along those lines we would certainly make our members aware of how they would be able to contribute."
Mr Legakis, who was kicked five or six times to the head, said that as a small business he could not afford not to earn money.
He said last week: "Every time I play back in my head about the night, I decide that I would have done the same again. Why on earth would someone smash up a car? Maybe I should mind my own business but the owner of that car deserved justice."
A 29 year-old man arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Read more at http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/ex-lord-mayor-launches-drive-to-help-injured-photographer-facing-4-000-bill-for-damaged-equipment/story-30007862-detail/story.html#C13imHVq3q39PXUA.99
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