Clifton Park attack victim: "I'm angry but not scared"

The 23-year-old man, who did not want to be named, said he believed he had been assaulted by the gang last Friday either for his “alternative look” or because he was alone.

The man described how he was set upon by a gang of around 12 youths at 6pm as he made his way home from work.

He said: “I was near the bandstand when I was approached by them — they were looking for a fight.

“I brushed them off and said: ‘You’re just kids, I’m not going to bother with you’.

“I noticed then they were following me and one pushed me from behind near the war memorial.

“I went to chase the one who pushed me, then he punched me in the jaw.

“Then two came from behind and hit me in the back of the head. I was down (on the floor) and more of them started punching me.

“I think most of the group were trying to get one in.”

The attack only stopped after a woman shouted at the attackers, he said, which made them flee.

The man said he was left bleeding from his mouth, had a sore cheek and a headache which lasted for two days.

He said the group of white and Asian boys were aged around 15 or 16, and had been wearing hoodies.

“I was not scared of them, the main thing that annoyed me is that they weren’t looking for a one-on-one fight, they went in as a pack of animals,” he said.

“I’m determined to keep going through the park — I should be able to pass through a public space unharmed every day.”

The force said it would also be examining if the incident was a hate crime. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 755 of April 13.