Man hurt in unprovoked baseball bat attack (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Man hurt in unprovoked baseball bat attack

A 25-year-old Wootton Bassett man has spoken of his terror after a vicious attack by two baseball bat-wielding thugs wearing balaclavas.

The man, who asked not to be named, had his arm broken as he tried to defend himself as the unprovoked attackers reigned down a barrage of blows.

He was left slumped against a garden fence with blood pouring down his neck and further cuts and bruises all across his body and legs.

Speaking this week the man said: "I was just coming home from the pub when I saw these two figures and then I saw they had baseball bats."

The next instant he was knocked to the floor as the two attackers, who were wearing combat clothing and balaclavas, battered him repeatedly.

"I got up and tried to get away but they knocked me down again," he said.

The attack happened near the building site on The Rosary, Wootton Bassett, at midnight on October 9. The man, who has since had a metal plate put in his arm and ten stitches to the back of his head, was walking home from the Cross Keys pub after enjoying an evening with friends.

A nearby resident who heard the attack thought someone was breaking into the building site but quickly got help when she realised what had happened. An ambulance was called and the man, who lives with his parents, was taken to Swindon's Great Western Hospital.

His mother said: "We knew nothing until he came back in a taxi at about 4.30am wearing hospital pyjamas with his hair all matted in blood and in a terrible state."

And because of his head injuries she had to keep watch over him all of that night.

"It was a horrendous attack and if they had attacked someone a bit younger or not so strong they could have been killed," she said.

The man's father said: "We've lived here 25 years, and you hear about scuffles and punch-ups but nothing as serious as this."

And the man, whose arm will be in plaster for the next six weeks, still can't understand why he was attacked.

"I can't think of anyone who would do this to me," he said.

WPC Tracy Davies of Wootton Bassett Police said: "We're treating this as grievous bodily harm with intent after what was a very serious attack.

The first attacker is described as about 6ft 2in, of athletic build, wearing full combat clothing and a balaclava. The second attacker is about 5ft 9in, of medium build, wearing dark clothing and a hoody top. He was also wearing a balaclava or face mask. Anyone with any information should call Wootton Bassett Police Station on (01793) 852213.