A 62-YEAR-OLD man was viciously assaulted by a gang of thugs after he tried to stop them damaging a row of parked cars.

Retired university lecturer Jeff Porter was returning to a friend's house in Heaton after a night out when he spotted a group of youths smashing wing mirrors and denting body work.

When Mr Porter confronted the gang, they turned on him, subjecting him to a volley of kicks and punches.

The attack left the former army officer needing hospital treatment for severe facial injuries, including a broken nose, and extensive bruising and a rib injury.

Mr Porter, who lives in Wales, said: "There were three or four of them and they had me surrounded. They took it in turns to attack me with flying high kicks. It must have gone on for nearly five minutes. I just remember thinking they mustn't get me on the ground. I managed to stumble into a nearby gateway and I heard one of them shout 'get his wallet!' "But then they ran off. They seemed to be in a state of euphoria, laughing and congratulating themselves on their performance."

Badly injured and semi-conscious, Mr Porter managed to make his way to his friend's house where he contacted the police.

To date, no one has been arrested or charged in connection with the incident, which happened on February 23, at about 11.30pm Mr Porter, who has since suffered from bouts of dizziness and is reluctant to leave his home at night, said: "What struck me was the obvious indifference of these youths to the likelihood of being caught.

"They were on a well lit thoroughfare surrounded by houses but experience must have told them that even if had they been seen, nobody would have tried to help, for fear of being attacked themselves.

"Had the police shown up the gang would simply have run off into the maze of alleys that seem to be available to them everywhere in this town.

"I'm no shrinking violet. I was in the army and I used to box in my youth but this has knocked the stuffing out of me.

"If they had gone for someone frailer, they could have killed them."

Police are investigating the incident and anyone with any information about the attack can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.