AN unprovoked brutal attack in Stroud left a man with with a fractured collar bone and ribs and a severe cut to his head.

Pete Barnes was walking home in the early hours of Friday after catching up with a few friends at the Lord John pub in Russell Street when he was set upon by three assailants.

They stamped on him so hard he was left with a footprint imprinted on his lower back before they made off with his wallet containing £80 in cash and an empty phone case.

Mr Barnes had forgotten he had removed his phone from the case earlier that evening.

He thought he was handing over his phone to his attackers.

He had just turned into a shortcut home heading towards Tesco when he was attacked.

“I got whacked from behind. I can’t remember if they hit me on the head or back first,” he said.

“I only remember being half dazed on the floor and handing my wallet and phone case over. It all seemed to happen very quickly.

“I watched their backs as they ran away.”

A passer by who saw the three men run off called an ambulance and Mr Barnes was rushed to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Detective Constable Debbie Willats said: “It appears this was a completely unprovoked attack.

“The man’s injuries are horrendous and the whole attack brutal.

“We need to find these people and that’s why I want to appeal to the community to come forward with information.”

Pete, who works at Dairy Crest in Stonehouse, was released from hospital about 10 hours later with painkillers. He has since attended hospital again for check-ups and is not sure when he is going to be fit to return to work.

“I’ve lived in Stroud all my life and I’ve always felt safe,” said Mr Barnes.

“I know enough good people around town – it’s only a minority who are a bad bunch.”

Police have appealed for anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident number 10 of March 20.