Lewis Farrell, 22, sustained serious facial injuries when he was hit in the face as talked with friends in the area known as the mini dene, near the Vibe nightclub, in Bede Way, Peterlee.

Horden man Lewis, who was left brain-damaged and disabled on one side of his body after being run over by a taxi outside Shotton Hall School in 1999, was set upon by a gang.

His jaw was broken in four places in what police are calling a "despicable attack" and he had to have metal plates inserted at the James Cook University Hospital.

He had been escorted home by a friend before an ambulance was called to take him to hospital.

His mother Anjelica hopes any of the people in the area – notorious for youths congregating and drinking – will come forward and help catch the people who left her son in hospital for three days.

Lewis was on his way home from his aunt's when he was assaulted.
Anjelica, 48, also known as Jill, said: "He had scans on his head and he is okay but his jaw's a mess.

"His teeth were nearly upside down, it was that bad."

Anjelica, who cares full-time for Lewis and also has a 26-year-old son, Jonathon, added: "He is all wired up with metal plates. It's terrible.
"It's a disgrace. There were lots of people in the dene, but not one has come forward.

"We had a walk down last night to the dene to see what it was like. There were loads of kids down there.

"It's a pathway for people coming home from the town centre. There must have been about 50 of them."

Detective Constable Lee Blakelock, of Peterlee Police, appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed what happened to come forward.

He said: "This was a totally unprovoked assault which left the victim with very nasty injuries. It was a despicable attack on a young vulnerable member of the community."

Anyone with information regarding the attack, at 9pm on Friday, should contact Peterlee Police on (0845) 6060365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on (0800) 555 111.