Stanley man targeted in 'sadistic' attack
A YOUNG man was the subject of a vicious and sadistic attack in County Durham - because he had no cigarettes to give to a group of strangers who stopped him on the street.
Police in Stanley said the group of three men called him a liar, then one punched him to the ground and the two others held him down as they stubbed their cigarettes out on his face.
As the victim, 23, struggled violently to get free, he heard a voice saying: ``Cut him," and felt pain to his face and body.
He continued to struggle and managed to kick one of the attackers in the face, injuring the man’s jaw, before he broke free and was able to run off.
The incident happened just after 12.30am on July 3 in Stanley on the footpath that runs between Eastfields and Stanley School of Technology as the victim walked to his house.
He was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, where he was treated for his injuries and then released. As well as burn marks to his face, he suffered deep scratches to his cheek and torso.
Pc Neil Westray said: ``We need to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time of the attack, who knows these men or might recognise them from the descriptions given."
The three attackers were all in their early 20s and spoke with Durham accents. The one who was kicked in the face is said to be 6ft 2in and was wearing dark jeans.
Another is 5ft 8in, of muscular build with black, styled hair that was gelled or waxed on top. He was wearing a white or light-coloured T-shirt that was tight fitting.
The third man is also around 6ft 2in. He was slim with light mousey-coloured hair and a goatee beard. He was wearing a dark-coloured top or jacket that was made of thin material and dark grey cotton jogging pants.
