A gang said to be terrorising locals in central Canterbury tried to throw a young man from the city wall, according to his mother.

Police are investigating reports that the 21-year-old – who is too scared to be identified – was brutally attacked in the Dane John Gardens as he walked to a club about 1am one night.

The victim was beaten so severely he needed a brain scan and was left with a footprint on his head.

His mum has told how her son was set upon by a group of teenagers when he tried to intervene as they apparently harassed a young girl.

“They tried to drag him towards the edge of the wall but he managed to wriggle back. He’s in no doubt what they were trying to do” - Victim's mother

When he approached, the youngsters – including the girl – turned on him and his friend, raining kicks and blows as they tried to fend them off.

The mum said: “They were walking along the top of the city wall, at its highest point by one of the turrets.

“The gang surrounded them and isolated them, punching and kicking my son in the head repeatedly.

“They tried to drag him towards the edge of the wall but he managed to wriggle back. He’s in no doubt what they were trying to do.”

Miraculously, the victims managed to struggle free and run towards the bus station to raise help, she says.

“My son was taken to Ashford hospital by ambulance and had X-rays and an MRI scan on his head. He was left battered and bruised and had a huge footprint embedded on his forehead.

“His friend also received cuts to his face.”

Last week we reported how two powerfully-built men in their late 20s were attacked with iron bars and dog chains as they walked through the same park.

Matthew White, 28, had his ear torn in half in the assault, while Joshua Buggins, also 28, suffered a broken nose.

“The coincidences of these attacks are frighteningly similar. I’m convinced they know exactly where the spots are that aren’t covered by CCTV" - Victim's mother

The attack prompted yet another victim to contact the Gazette telling how he was assaulted as he tried to help a girl in apparent distress.

Ringo Woolgar, a 37-year-old hairdresser, suffered a fractured eye socket during the attack in a small churchyard just a stone’s throw from the Dane John Gardens.

Elements of the attacks bear striking similarities to the assault on the unnamed 21-year-old, who lives and works in the city.

His mother said: “The coincidences of these attacks are frighteningly similar. I’m convinced they know exactly where the spots are that aren’t covered by CCTV.

“One of the girls even shouted to the lads during the attack to be careful of the cameras.”

She says police have told her son they were unable to identify the suspects from footage, despite him reporting that two attackers had chased him through the bus station – an area with cameras operating.

She added:“It will be interesting to see how many other assaults have gone unmentioned and why the police have not done more to stop these brutal assaults on innocent people going about their normal lives.”

Police spokesman Sally Smith confirmed officers were investigating allegations of an assault on a 21-year-old by two males and two females in the Dane John Gardens.

She said: “Police carried out an investigation, which included seizing footage from the CCTV cameras covering the area.

“The footage was viewed and on this occasion no one matching the description of the suspects had been captured by the cameras.”

Anyone with information about the city wall attack on February 13 is asked to contact police quoting reference ZY/004532/15.

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