A student was taken to hospital after he was robbed and beaten in a "sustained" attack on his way home from a night out.
The victim was ambushed by a gang of men as he walked along a path running from Essex University to student digs in the Hythe.
The group assaulted him and ran off with his wallet and back pack.
Detectives think it may be linked to another attack which happened near the Boundary Road campus about the same time.
The man was treated for minor injuries by medics at Colchester General Hospital.
His attackers were said to be all aged in their late teens or early 20s.
One was white, medium build, wearing a dark winter coat with a fur hood, a white top and dark bottoms.
Another was said to be white, wearing a dark cap, a dark top with grey stripe across the chest and arms. He was also wearing dark bottoms and light coloured trainers.
- Anyone with information about either incident, which happened at about 1am on Friday is asked to all Det Con Worrow on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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