TAKEAWAY owner Mosfiqur Rahman is the latest victim of Swindon's violent streets.

Today he spoke of the moment he was attacked by a masked man outside his house and left with cuts to his face and arms.

His ordeal is part of an alarming increase in violent attacks carried out by people intent on stealing other's property, often to raise money to feed a drug habit.

Mr Rahman had 22 stitches to his wounds following the attack outside his Park North home.

He said: "It was dark. His face was covered so all I could see was his eyes. He kept saying 'give me your money, give me your money' but I hung on to my bag.

"He had something like a bat and was holding it with both hands but it must have had something sharp on it because I was cut."

Mr Rahman, 32, lives at a flat in Radstock Avenue with his wife Khalila, 31, their daughter Thabina, seven, and 10-week-old son Daaud.

His mother Shada Khatan and brother Safiqur Rahman, who are currently visiting from Bangladesh, were sitting in Mr Rahman's car at the time and witnessed the attack but were unable to help him.

Mr Rahman tried to get help by banging on the windows of the ground floor flats but the attacker followed him and a struggle broke out.

He said: "The man came after me, so I dropped the bag and started fighting again but when my brother came along, the attacker grabbed the bag and ran in the direction of Tavistock Road. I feel very bad because I am scared to go out and I don't feel the area is safe anymore."

The robbery happened at 4am on Sunday, after Mr Rahman had completed a night's work at the Rice and Spice takeaway in Gorse Hill. The stolen bag mainly contained documents, cheques and bank books.

Mrs Rahman said: "My daughter won't go out. She used to play on the grass but now she's seen daddy's face and she is frightened.

"I don't want to go out in the evenings and this morning I was taking my daughter to school when my mother-in-law kept gesturing that I shouldn't go out. She is just scared for us."

The attacker is described as male, white, aged in his early 20s, and was wearing what appeared to be a balaclava, dark coloured top and jeans. Police are appealing for witnesses to contact PC Corin Dennison at Swindon Police on 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.