Wales visitor attacked 'because of his English accent' Paul Meehan, 27, released images showing his head taped up with the words "No bone" written by doctors after they removed a five-inch piece of his skull to try to stop an infection spreading to his brain. More than 35,000 race hate crimes were committed in England and Wales in 2011/12, including almost 1,400 in Wales alone, and 85 per cent involved violent attacks, Home Office figures showed. It could have turned into a murder case quite easily which is scary to think about. Mr Meehan, of Erdington, Birmingham, was attacked at a taxi rank after a night out in Cardiff with his fiance Laura Landeg, 22. He was rushed to hospital but suffered several skull fractures and bleeding in a vessel next to his brain. He also contracted an eye infection which spread throughout his blood stream. "They had to take a big section of skull away so I'm left with a squidgy bit on the side of my head," he added. Mr Meehan will have to wait six months before a metal plate is inserted in his head to replace the missing section of skull and is having regular neuro-rehabilitation treatment. South Wales Police are investigating the attack which took place on October 28. A force spokeswoman said: "Assaults such as this will not be tolerated in Cardiff city centre and are always fully investigated."