A DAD-OF-TWO was knocked unconscious in a street after being viciously assaulted by a thug.

The 48-year-old victim was approaching the corner of John Cross Street and Minorca Street in Great Lever with a friend on Monday at around 4.30pm.

He then saw five to six men, who he recognised from incidents in which people had knocked on his door and rang his bell before running off at midnight on two occasions – a month ago and only last week.

The resident asked them why they had knocked on his door and after fierce words were exchanged, one yob punched him two or three times on the face and nose before leaving him unconscious in the street.

His friend, who was not assaulted, managed to get him into his car, which was parked nearby, and took him to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Tests found he suffered a fractured jaw and nose, which he was bleeding from.

The man said: "I moved in with my wife and two children two months ago.

"A month ago at midnight some guys knocked on my door and rang my bell and ran off.

"They did it last week too.

"I seen them when I was walking with my friend and asked them why they did it.

"They started swearing and one guy started beating me.

"He was well built and he hit me on my face and nose with full power."

The man describes the attacker and his friends as Asian and aged between 20 and 30.

The shocking incident has left him and his family feeling terrified and he does not feel safe leaving his house, as the perpetrators are often outside.

"I have not been going out because of them," the man said.

"It is really scary and I do not feel safe.

"All the time I am checking that the doors are locked.

"I saw them on Thursday and they were laughing at me and dancing to loud music in the car."

On Thursday, there were a mixture of Asian and white people in the group that laughed at him.

The assault comes only a few months after the man was released from hospital after spending 20 days on a ventilator as he battled with coronavirus.

And he is still recovering from COVID-19 as well as the injuries he sustained on Monday.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said officers are investigating.

If you have any information contact police on 101 quoting reference number 2,161 of July 27.

Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.