Barnet: A 20-year-old man needed more than 40 stitches in a head wound after he was involved in a brutal attack in High Street, Potters Bar, late on Saturday night.

Jermyn Landon, of Ware, was walking to the BP garage in High Street, at around 11.15pm after a night out with friends when the vicious attack took place.

Mr Landon recalled: "I wanted to get some food from the garage and saw two kids but didn't think anything of it. They started being really aggressive, pushing me and throwing bottles, but I carried on walking.

"I got to the war memorial near Oakmere Park and that is when they started hitting me and punching me. One of them brought out a broken bottle, stuck it in my face and twisted it around," he added.

During the attack Mr Landon fell from a two-foot high wall on the roadway adjacent to the car park in Oakmere Park where passers-by came to his help. His attackers ran off towards the park.

"It was completely unprovoked and I feel disgusted this has happened to me. If they had hit me two centimetres lower they would hit the artery and paralysed my face," said Mr Landon.

Mr Landon, who works for Sainsbury's in Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, was rushed to Barnet Hospital after the attack but released on Sunday.

Both suspects are white and aged between 17 and 20. One of them is described as having a 'skin head' and wore a white polo shirt and rectangular glasses.

Police believe one of the attackers probably had blood on his clothes.

Anyone with information is asked to call DC Mark Wallis on 01707 638234 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

December 5, 2001 12:31