A BANWELL man has been left with multiple facial injuries and broken ribs after he was attacked for not giving some kids a cigarette. Matthew O'Brien, aged 22, of Wolvershill Road, was walking home from the Bell Inn with a friend at about 2.30am on Saturd

A BANWELL man has been left with multiple facial injuries and broken ribs after he was attacked for not giving some kids a cigarette.Matthew O'Brien, aged 22, of Wolvershill Road, was walking home from the Bell Inn with a friend at about 2.30am on Saturday (Sept 30) when he was approached by two youths and asked for a cigarette.When he told them he didn't have one, he claims he was repeatedly punched and kicked in the head and stomach.Matthew suffered a fractured cheek bone and eye socket, a broken nose, at least three broken ribs, a large cut to the back of the head and concussion.His eye is so swollen he cannot see out of it and he will not be able to return to work for at least two weeks.He said: "We were approached by a couple of males in their 20s. One asked me for a cigarette. I told him I didn't have one. He shouted a few obscenities and the next thing I knew I'd been hit in the face. I fell back and hit a lamp post and fell to the floor."I got back up, pushed them away and ran. We hid in someone's garden until we thought it was safe to go home. But then a van pulled up and about four males jumped on top of me. They had me in a headlock and continuously punched my head and knocked me out on the floor. I received a lot of kicks. "It went on for about five minutes. I just had my hands over my head to try and protect myself. I didn't know what was going to happen. I was on the main road and was just hoping someone would drive past. It was quite scary."Matthew's friend David Trotter, aged 22, from Nailsea, was held back when the attack was taking place and also received a couple of punches.Matthew, who works for the Ministry of Defence in Bristol, said: "The shock hit me when I got home and I couldn't stand properly."I refuse to go out at the moment, I don't feel safe. My face is completely smashed up, it's quite embarrassing. I certainly won't be going out in Banwell in the evening any more." Police are appealing for anyone with any information to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.