This is the battered and bruised face of a man savagely beaten in an unprovoked attack.

Shaun Turnbull, affectionately known as the “trolley man” from Deal's Sainsbury’s, was hit across the head with a metal bar by robbers.

The 46-year-old, now recovering at home from his ordeal, has issued a heart-felt plea for help in catching his attackers.

Mr Turnbull, pictured left, said: “I want to get the two men caught before they do the same thing again. They should be behind bars.

“I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. Please, if anyone knows who they were then call the police."

Mr Turnbull was walking home from work at 7.20pm last Thursday along Church Path, at its junction with Bowling Green Lane, when he was attacked.

He said: “These two guys were blocking the entrance to the road. One got hold of me, one went behind me.

“They asked me where my money was and I told them I didn’t have any on me at all. They went through my pockets.

“Then the man behind me hit me round the head four times with a metal bar. It did hurt. Then they ran off.”

Mr Turnbull, who said it seemed sensible not to fight back, managed to walk to the nearby Deal Hospital where the alarm was raised.

"i want to get the two men caught before they do the same thing again…” – victim shaun turnbull

He was taken by ambulance to the Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, for treatment. He has a cracked cheekbone, bruising and cuts to his head.

His attackers are both described as white men, aged about 18, with dark hair.

DS Sheena Barrell said: “We are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time of the attack to contact us. We would particularly like to speak to a woman out walking her small brown dog who walked past the victim in Church Path moments before the incident took place, as she may have vital information that could help with our investigation.

“This was a very nasty and completely unprovoked attack on a man who was simply walking home after a day’s work, and we are determined to find the two offenders.”

A man aged 21 arrested in connection with the assault was released on police bail.

Witnesses are asked to phone Kent Police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.