A gang left a man with a perforated ear-drum and a black eye after assaulting him and two friends.
The unprovoked attack by five men happened at about midnight in Maldon Road, Colchester, as the 21-year-old victim and two others walked home.
Police said it could be linked with the robbery of a student a couple of hours later. In both cases, the attackers were cruising around in a car, looking for somebody to attack to "get their kicks by inflicting pain on other people".
The victim told detectives he was on his way home at about midnight on Saturday when a red Vauxhall Astra car started to follow him. The car parked and five men got out and tried to pick a fight.
The victims refused and carried on walking so the attacker followed them, punched the 21-year-old in the back of his head and knocked him to the ground. His two friends were also assaulted.
At about 2.30am the same night, two men got out of a large, old, dark-coloured car in Greenstead Road to visciously rob a 19-year-old student of his bag.
The pair, who were white, 18 or 19 and had short, cropped hair, left him with concussion and a suspected fractured leg.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det Sgt Mark Merry at Colchester Police Station on 01206 762212
Published Wednesday August 28, 2002
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