A Father has condemned city centre thuggery in York after his son was assaulted for the third time in four years.

The man said his 23-year-old son had lived in America and Kenya, but never been assaulted or threatened as he had in his own home town.

He claimed York's thuggery ran deep and the city was in danger of acquiring a reputation for public order problems.

He said his son was out with a group of friends on Boxing Day evening when he was attacked without provocation near the Argos store at Ousebridge.

He was knocked to the ground and kicked in the head, and taken to hospital unconscious.

He was released the next day but went back into hospital for a scan later last week after the intense pain continued.

Fortunately, the scan did not pick up any problems and he was allowed home in time for New Year's Eve. The father, who did not wish to be identified, is now hoping his son's condition will simply improve with time and said today that he seemed to be on the mend.

He said: "We are grateful it was not worse. He could easily have been killed.

"This is the third time in four years he has been attacked in the centre of York. Each attack has been random and unprovoked.

"I accept that police are trying to do all they can to deal with this thuggery but the problem in York, particularly at weekends, seems to run deep.

"York is in danger of acquiring a reputation as a city with a public order problem. I fully appreciate that there are no easy answers to this and I support the over-stretched and under-resourced police in their difficult and dangerous task of preserving law and order on the streets of York. "Perhaps the city council needs to make this issue a top priority."

PC Heather Wilkinson, of York police, said today: "We are still making inquiries into this incident.

"One of the attackers is described as being white, in his early 20s, about 5ft 8ins tall, with short light hair and wearing a white shirt. The second had short dark hair, and was wearing a purple-red shirt and dark jeans.

"Anyone with any information which could assist with our inquiries should contact the crime desk on York 631321."

Superintendent John Lacy, of York police, said today that unprovoked thuggery sickened him, and tackling it was one of the police's highest priorities.

A series of measures had been taken to combat violent crime and disorder in the city centre, which was often drink-related, and there had been a 40 per cent reduction over a four year period.

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