Teen gang beat man after he refused to give them a cigarette. UK: Police say the victim, believed to be in his 40's, was left with a suspected fractured eye socket and cuts and bruises all over his body.

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October 2, 2004

Teen gang beat man for cigarette
 
A gang of teenage girls and boys attacked a man after he refused to give them a cigarette.
Police say the victim, believed to be in his 40's, was left with a suspected fractured eye socket and cuts and bruises all over his body.

He has now returned home after being in a serious condition in hospital following the incident on Sydney Avenue in Shrewsbury last Monday.

Police are describing the attack as "sickening and unprovoked".

Washed off blood

The five youngsters set upon the man when he got out of his car.

It is thought the three girls may have been the main instigators of the incident.

The victim was kicked and punched all over which only ended when two members of the public came to help him, ignoring further threats from the gang.

The group then washed the blood off their hands in the River Severn before walking off towards the Castle footbridge.

A police spokesman said this type of incident has never happened in the town before.

CCTV cameras would not have recorded the attack as it happened outside the town centre.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/3710162.stm