A barmaid says she feared she was going to die in an attack that left her with a broken eye socket and fractured temple.

Lex Giggs, 28, was having a cigarette break just before closing time at Earls in Maidstone when a man came over to her, acting strangely.

She described the attack as unprovoked and suspects it might be a hate crime because of her sexuality.

"I felt uncomfortable," she said. "He wouldn't stop staring at me and asking me if I knew a certain girl.

"He started to get aggressive and calling me names. I just thought he was a drunk customer, but when I stood up and asked him to leave he headbutted me."

"It was very scary and I thought I was going to die. It happened really quickly and then he ran off..." - attack victim Lex Giggs

The Maidstone resident fell to the floor outside the Earl Street bar and says she was held down and repeatedly punched in the face.

She said: "It was very scary and I thought I was going to die. It happened really quickly and then he ran off.

"I think my partner was more affected than me mentally because she saw the whole thing.

"It makes you a bit apprehensive and anxious in case you get stuck in that situation again.

"It is going to make me more cautious of people. I just want to speak to him to know why he did it.

"I've never come across any violence before – it had been a karaoke night and everyone was in a good mood."

Fremlin Walk first aiders were quickly at the scene and Lex was taken away in an ambulance after the attack, shortly before midnight on July 2.

She had an operation to move the bone on her face back into place and needed stitches.

Lex, who has not been back to work since, is in constant pain and has been told it could be years before the feeling completely returns to her face.

She said: "It is numb because of the nerve damage and it feels like I don't have any teeth on one side of my mouth.

"I'm just thankful that I'm still here. I could have been brain damaged."

A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing GBH and bailed until August 29 while investigations continue.