Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen a brutal unprovoked attack which left a 16-year-old with a broken jaw.
The young student was walking home from Basildon town centre when he was approached by a gang of four youths near the bus station.
One asked him for a cigarette but the victim replied he did not smoke and carried on walking.
Det Con Angie Thipthorp, of Basildon CID, said: "It appears these thugs took offence and he was grabbed, punched once in the face and then a full plastic bottle was smashed against the side of his face, breaking his jaw in two places."
Despite his injury, the victim was able to run to a nearby taxi driver and begged for help. The youths raced off after the attack.
Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at about 8pm on Saturday, can contact Det Con Angie Thipthorp on 01268 532212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Published Thursday, February 21, 2002
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