A Coventry man has been left scared to go outside at night and unable to eat following a vicious unprovoked attack in the city centre.
Jawal Hassan, 30, was left lying injured in Croft Road as his attackers ran away laughing on Saturday night.
The Ericsson engineer suffered injuries to his face, neck and jaw.
Mr Hassan, who moved to Coventry in 2008 and lives in the city centre, had gone for a drink alone at Carey’s in Hertford Place and was walking home when he was stopped by a teenager at about 11.30pm in Croft Road.
The lad asked Mr Hassan politely if he was having a good night – but when Mr Hassan stopped to respond, the teen launched an attack, joined by five or six other youths.
Mr Hassan told the Telegraph: “He punched me in the face and then I was punched from behind by someone else and I fell to the floor.
“I was being punched and kicked by all of them. I went unconscious for some time, I didn’t know what was happening.
“They then ran off laughing.
“I wasn’t expecting it – it was totally unprovoked. I wasn’t expecting it. They had spoken to me in such a friendly way.
“I don’t know why they attacked me or what they got from attacking me.”
A passing motorist stopped to help Mr Hassan and an ambulance was called.
He was taken to University Hospital, Walsgrave, where he was kept in overnight.
Since the assault, he has struggled to eat because of the injuries to his jaw and says he would be frightened to go at night alone again.
Mr Hassan believes six or seven teens were involved in the attack, aged approximately 17 to 20.
The main offender who approached Mr Hassan is described as white, aged about 19 with brown shaven hair and a tattoo on his left hand, wearing a white T-shirt.
Mr Hassan said: “I’m scared. Is it not safe to go outside anymore?
“I am speaking out for the community – I don’t want anyone else to have this problem.
“If these people get away with this, they may become more brave.
“Next time they may use a knife.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Officers were alerted by the ambulance service to the incident at around 11.45pm.
“The 30-year-old victim was walking from Carey’s club towards the Skydome when he has been approached by seven unknown men who, without warning, punched him several times in the head.
“The men then fled the scene in an unknown direction.”
Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who was in the area at the time should call Coventry police on 101.
Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 2:57 pm