Warden Brian Edwards, beaten black and blue by a teenage thug after he asked a group to keep the noise down, today spoke of his ordeal.

The brutality of the unprovoked attack has shocked detectives.

Youth nuisance has been a problem outside the warden-controlled Kestrel House flats in Eagle Way, Shoebury, for more than two years.

But residents, and now even wardens, are too scared to fight for peace and quiet after a problem youngsters turned nasty and unleashed a savage attack which left 61-year-old Mr Edwards unconscious in an alleyway.

Mr Edwards said the incident had left him very shaken.

"I didn't expect this to happen. I only went to ask them to keep the noise down. The next thing I knew I was laying on the pavement with a bloody nose."

Mr Edwards was attacked when he went into the alleyway behind Kestrel House to ask a group of three youngsters to keep the noise down.

He said: "I asked them to move on and one of the lads apologised and said his friend was drunk.

"The drunk friend then got nasty and abusive and headbutted me in the face."

Mr Edwards still has two black eyes from the attack.

The three youths were aged between 15 and 17. Two of them were white, the other was black.

The teenager who attacked Mr Edwards at about 9.30pm on Sunday was muscular and was wearing a grey baseball cap and grey zip-up jacket.

If you can help, call the crime unit at Southend police on 01702 431212 quoting reference C99 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Beaten - warden Brian Edwards

Picture: ROBINWOOSEY

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