Updated: Man attacked on his doorstep

1:49pm Monday 12th May 2008

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A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer was left unconscious after being hit across the face with a wrought-iron doorstop in a suspected case of mistaken identity.

The 47-year-old victim needed surgery on his fractured jaw following the attack on the doorstep of his home in Mendip Crescent, Westcliff.

Police said two aggressive Irishmen called, demanding to see a woman called Cerys, Kelly or Kerry, but the victim tried to explain he lived alone.

The men refused to believe him and one threw a punch, as the second bent down to grab a wrought-iron bell-shaped doorstop which he used to smash the victim around the face, knocking him unconscious.

The man came round to find himself alone. He spent three days in Southend Hospital and had a two-hour operation to repair the damage to his jaw, replacing part of the left side with metal plates.

He said: "All I keep thinking is why did they do this to me? Especially when I told them I didn't know who they were talking about. I'm in a lot of pain and I'm frightened. I've lived here for 14 years, but I haven't been out since this happened. I'm terrified there will be repercussions."

He will have to eat liquidised food for the next six weeks.

Police believe it is possible the thugs got the wrong address.

Nothing was stolen from the house or the victim.

The crooks were both white, aged 30 to 35 and spoke with broad Irish accents. One was 5ft 1ins to 5ft 4ins tall, with short, black, tight curly hair and a goatee beard.

The second was 5ft 7 to 5ft 10ins, stocky, had mousy brown hair and a crooked or broken nose.