Robbers stamped on a man's head as they stole his briefcase in Colchester town centre.
The two attackers pushed the 32-year-old victim over a wall and left him with head injuries which needed stitches in hospital.
But all that was in the briefcase - which they may have thought held a valuable laptop computer - was paperwork and an orange.
Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester CID, said: "They knocked him over a low brick wall and one of them stamped on his head and stole his briefcase.
"He was shaken up by the incident and part of his scalp was sliced so he had to have it stitched."
The robbers were both white and ran off along Church Street towards Head Street.
One was described as in his mid-20s with a medium or stocky build, a shaven head and was wearing a white T-shirt.
Anyone with information about the attack, at about 8.45pm on Wednesday, should call Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Published Friday March 5, 2004
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