Father's skull broken in attack

The attack left Stephen Swallow unrecognisable

A father of two will need metal plates inserted into his skull after a "sickening" attack on a Lincoln street.

Officers said the apparently unprovoked attack on Stephen Swallow, 43, was one of the most violent they had seen.

Mr Swallow was in St Benedict's Square at midnight on Saturday when he was beaten with a plank of wood, then punched and kicked about the head.

The £100 in his wallet was not stolen but he will have to have part of his upper jaw reattached.

Mr Swallow, an engineer from Bracebridge Heath in Lincoln, also suffered a broken nose, a cut scalp and a split elbow.

'Innocent victim'

Describing the attack, he said: "I turned around and saw two people that I remember and I asked them what was going on and what was happening, then I realised it was a tight situation.

"So I went to defend myself against them and after that I can't remember a thing."

He added: "I can't believe anyone would do something like this - it's crazy. I just want anyone who knows anything to come forward."

Supt Lee Freeman from Lincolnshire Police said: "From the investigation so far it is clear this was a sickening and unprovoked attack in the area of High Street and St Benedict's Square.

"The level of violence used on what was an innocent victim has shocked everyone - not just the public but the investigating officers as well."

One of his attackers is described as white, 5ft 6in (1.67m) tall and of slim to medium build. He had short dark hair and was in his early 20s. He was wearing dark jeans, a dark long-sleeved top with a hood and white trainers.

The second attacker was white, about 6ft (1.82m) tall and had mousy-coloured short hair. He was in his mid-20s and was wearing dark jeans and a dark blue jumper and white trainers.