A MAN has told of the horror of being beaten over the head with a crutch and left with a fractured skull.

Saul Willsher, 45, needed 17 stitches following the brutal attack by two thugs armed with the walking aid in Elmer Approach, Southend.

Saul was resting on a bench with a friend after drinking in nearby East Coast Social when they were approached by the men, who launched their unprovoked attack.

Mr Willsher, who lives in St Mary’s Court, in Victoria Avenue, told how he tried to lift his hands to protect himself as the blows rained down on his head.

He said: “These two lads just had a random crutch, and seemed like they were just out to hurt somebody.

“I was just sitting on a bench minding my own business when I had this feeling that somebody was behind me.

“These lads came around the corner and then smashed me 20 times over the head.

“They hit me so hard that the crutch shattered over my head. The pipe then cut my head open.

“I’ve got a nine-inch scar on my head.

“I just think that it is outrageous that you can’t sit on a public bench without being set upon.

“I didn’t do anything to deserve this - I didn’t provoke them at all.”

Mr Willsher didn’t attend hospital straight away because he was feeling concussed, but later went to Southend Hospital for treatment.

He said that he lost a pint and a half of blood and also suffered two broken ribs, but cannot account for how these injuries came about.

He said that he did see three men at first, but one ran off during the attack.

The attackers were aged between 19 and 20.

Police are treating the incident very seriously as grievous bodily harm, because bones were broken.

Mr Willsher’s friend was uninjured.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police are looking for witnesses following an incident in Southend where a man was attacked with a crutch.

“The victim, a man in his 40s, reported he had been sitting on a bench in Elmer Approach with a friend when they were approached by two men.

“The victim then got into an altercation with one of the men and was hit on the head with a crutch.

“He was taken to hospital to be treated for head injuries.

“The attacker was a black male, 18-19 years-old and wearing a light blue jacket.”

The attack happened at about 10.20pm on Tuesday, October 18.

So far, no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Iain White at Southend Police Station on 101.

Alternatively they can give information to the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.