Family of injured man speak out

Robert King had been due to start a carpentry business

The family of a Lincolnshire teenager left critically injured has appealed for witnesses to his unprovoked attack.

Robert King, from Fulstow, received severe head injuries near Eastgate in Louth in the early hours of 29 July after a night out with friends.

The 19-year-old is now in the intensive therapy unit at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Six local youths aged between 19 and 22 were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and violent disorder and released on police bail.

Robert King's father David said: "Bob and his school pals did nothing more than be in the wrong place at the wrong time and now they're all paying the consequences."

Notorious gang

He praised the actions of police officers who took his son to hospital in their police vehicle when the ambulance did not arrive.

The teenager completed college in May and had been due to start his own carpentry business.

His mother Jane said: "As I sit holding my son's hand I think about how hard he's worked in his nineteen years and all that was taken from him in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"I would ask every parent to imagine being in the same place as we are now."

Robert's older brother James added: "We've heard that a group of youths have been causing all sorts of unrest and bad atmosphere around the town over the past few months, but that people are too scared to report their concerns to the police.

"We'd urge anyone with information to call the police."