28557/4A GANG of muggers attacked a man 6ft 8in tall and stole his mobile phone as he walked home after a night out in Trowbridge.

John Turner, of Park Street, was attacked from behind by four people and needed hospital treatment for broken bones and bruising.

The 32-year-old was walking home from The Snooker Club when he was assaulted at 2.30am on Sunday.

The muggers punched Mr Turner to the ground and beat him unconscious as he walked along Gloucester Road, before seizing his silver Nokia mobile phone and a green wallet.

He was taken to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, and was treated for a broken nose, a fractured elbow and a broken cheekbone.

Mr Turner, who works as a dry liner and has lived in Trowbridge all his life, said: "I've never felt threatened when I was walking home before but I was a little bit pickled. It was the first time I had been out in Trowbridge for six months. I had been out watching the football."

Mr Turner, who is now recovering in bed and is being cared for by his grandparents, said he is unlikely to go out again in the near future.

He said: "I want to see them caught. Personally I want to deal with it myself but it's probably best to leave it to the police."

He has little memory of the attack and cannot remember what the muggers looked like.

PC Alan Catchpole, of Trowbridge Police, said: "He had drunk between 15 and 20 pints and cannot even be sure of the exact location where he was attacked.

"People have to take some responsibility themselves, especially if this is the start of things to come and these people are preying on people who are drunk."

PC Catchpole said the incident served as a warning not to drink too much before walking home.