VICIOUS thugs brutally attacked a man with Down’s Syndrome in broad daylight, leaving him with horrific facial injuries.
Martin Mann, 27, who also has severe learning difficulties, may have surgery after the yobs fractured his eye socket.
His devastated mother, Janet, of Great Spenders, Basildon, is now frightened to let her son out alone again.
She said: “I’m horrified and disgusted.
“This has really shattered his confidence.
“Everybody around here knows him and he is always walking the dog over the fields.
“But now I’m just frightened.
“I can’t let him go out on his own anymore. I have to go with him, in case anything else happens.
“I would like to get my hands on whoever did this just to let them know how it would feel.”
Martin, who was presented with a Scouting award by the Queen in 2007, was out walking the family’s black labrador, Beck, in Holy Cross Park in Church Road, Basildon.
A gang of four thugs approached Martin and, as they walked past, one of them punched him in the left eye, causing the horrific injury.
The cowardly yobs fled, leaving Martin wounded, distressed and soaked in his own blood.
A woman passing by rushed to his aid, giving him a tissue to stem the blood. Detectives are now trying to trace her.
Martin’s angry mum Janet, who is assistant Scout leader for the 1st Wickford troop of which her son is also a member, said he had been withdrawn since the attack.
She added: “He didn’t say anything when he first got home, but eventually he said these lads attacked him.
“I don’t think they set out to look for somebody with a handicap.
“I just think he was in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”
Investigating officer Det Con Karen Hutchings, of Billericay CID, urged witnesses and the woman who come to his aid to come forward.
She said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack on the victim.
“The injuries he sustained are serious and could have a life-lasting impact on him.
“A helpful woman gave him a tissue for the blood loss, and I am keen to trace her as she may have vital information.”
The four thugs are described as white men. One was of large build with short black hair. Another had blond hair and was wearing a black tracksuit.
Martin Mann, 27, who also has severe learning difficulties, may have surgery after the yobs fractured his eye socket.
His devastated mother, Janet, of Great Spenders, Basildon, is now frightened to let her son out alone again.
She said: “I’m horrified and disgusted.
“This has really shattered his confidence.
“Everybody around here knows him and he is always walking the dog over the fields.
“But now I’m just frightened.
“I can’t let him go out on his own anymore. I have to go with him, in case anything else happens.
“I would like to get my hands on whoever did this just to let them know how it would feel.”
Martin, who was presented with a Scouting award by the Queen in 2007, was out walking the family’s black labrador, Beck, in Holy Cross Park in Church Road, Basildon.
A gang of four thugs approached Martin and, as they walked past, one of them punched him in the left eye, causing the horrific injury.
The cowardly yobs fled, leaving Martin wounded, distressed and soaked in his own blood.
A woman passing by rushed to his aid, giving him a tissue to stem the blood. Detectives are now trying to trace her.
Martin’s angry mum Janet, who is assistant Scout leader for the 1st Wickford troop of which her son is also a member, said he had been withdrawn since the attack.
She added: “He didn’t say anything when he first got home, but eventually he said these lads attacked him.
“I don’t think they set out to look for somebody with a handicap.
“I just think he was in the wrong place, at the wrong time.”
Investigating officer Det Con Karen Hutchings, of Billericay CID, urged witnesses and the woman who come to his aid to come forward.
She said: “This was a completely unprovoked attack on the victim.
“The injuries he sustained are serious and could have a life-lasting impact on him.
“A helpful woman gave him a tissue for the blood loss, and I am keen to trace her as she may have vital information.”
The four thugs are described as white men. One was of large build with short black hair. Another had blond hair and was wearing a black tracksuit.
, poor chap. Hope they cattch the Scum who did it 
.
