Man victim of 'sadistic' attack

A man was the victim of a "brutal and sadistic" attack in County Durham because he did not have cigarettes to give to three men, police said.

The 23-year-old was attacked on a footpath in Stanley early on Friday.

Durham Police said when he told them he had no cigarettes one man punched him to the ground and cigarettes were stubbed out on his face.

The victim was treated in hospital for burn marks and deep scratches to his face and body.

Pc Neil Westray said: "This was a shocking, brutal and sadistic attack.

"He had never seen these men before and they assaulted him because he did not have cigarettes to give them."

The man was attacked as he walked along a footpath that runs between Eastfields and Stanley School of Technology.

Police said the attackers were in their early 20s.