Scarred for life

Father-of-two Doug Unwin was scarred for life after being smashed in the head with a metal mini-scooter by a young thug and punched in the face by another.

The attack outside his house in Kingswood Grove, Acomb, left a nasty three-inch gash on his forehead that needed ten stitches.

"I could have been blinded or even killed," he said.

"I'm quite astonished at the lack of respect."

Mr Unwin, 57, who has a photography business, said about 20 youths had gathered outside his house and started swearing and insulting him when he asked a girl to stop leaning on his hedge.

He said one of the group then began repeatedly punching him in the face while the others egged him on.

"I was trying to parry the blows and restrain his arms," he said. "I kept telling him to calm down."

The youth then threw a bike at Mr Unwin, but he managed to block it with his arm.

But seconds later a metal scooter was smashed into his forehead at point-blank range by another youth.

"It came from nowhere and I was knocked out on my feet," he said. "When the group saw the amount of blood pouring off me they backed off. My wife then called the police."

Mr Unwin also suffered heavy bruising on his arm after blocking the bike.

"I asked politely for them to move on, but was met with a barrage of abuse," he said.

"Now I'm scarred for life."

The incident took place at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.

The young male who punched him is described as aged about 16, 5ft 6in tall, of medium build, with short dark hair. He was wearing dark trousers and a jacket.

The scooter-throwing male is described as about 16, of medium height and build, and was wearing a baseball cap and a light jacket.

Updated: 10:46 Friday, October 24, 2003