A 32-YEAR-old man was left with a broken jaw, shattered teeth and fractured cheek bones in a “savage and barbaric” late-night attack.

Will Clarke

A 32-YEAR-old man was left with a broken jaw, shattered teeth and fractured cheek bones in a “savage and barbaric” late-night attack.

Paul Beynom had left a friend's barbeque early on Sunday when he was set upon in Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds, by a man and a woman.

The ground worker, from Bury, now faces two weeks in a hospital bed and an operation to repair his mangled face.

His girlfriend, Angela Knowles, who was visiting from her home in Newmarket, was punched in the face by the woman assailant but escaped with only bruising.

Mr Beynom said they were dropped off on Churchgate Street by a taxi at about 2am and the first he knew about the attack was when he felt a blow to the side of the head as the pair walked home.

He fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious. Mr Beynom said his doctors had estimated he was hit by up to seven kicks and punches.

“It was totally unprovoked,” he said. “They didn't even say anything. I was afraid they might come back for me - I don't feel safe in Bury, not now. It was such a savage and barbaric attack.

“Doctors have told me I will be in hospital for two weeks.”

Ms Knowles, 39, said she only saw the male attacker from behind as he meted out the vicious beating - having been knocked to the floor by the woman.

“I didn't even see the woman, I just heard a door close and then I was punched in the face,” she said. “Paul turned around and the man beat the living daylights out of him.

“While Paul was being hit I fell between two parked cars. I have never been punched in my life and I was just shocked - I can't believe it has happened.”

She said police had examined marks left by a sovereign-style ring left on her face by the attackers, who jumped the pair from a darkened doorway.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said officers were called to an incident in which a man had suffered “serious facial injuries”.

She appealed for anyone with information about the attack to call Det-con Andy Smethurst at Bury police station on 01284 774100.