AN IPSWICH man is recovering from serious facial injuries today after being knocked off his bike with a metal object in a late-night attack.Jonathan Simpson was cycling on Gippeswyk Avenue in the town on Sunday when an attacker stepped in his path, swung a metal object at his face and knocked him from his bike.

AN IPSWICH man is recovering from serious facial injuries today after being knocked off his bike with a metal object in a late-night attack.

Jonathan Simpson was cycling on Gippeswyk Avenue in the town on Sunday when an attacker stepped in his path, swung a metal object at his face and knocked him from his bike.

The 23-year-old is now nursing a broken nose and cheek bone and a bruised and blistered mouth.

Mr Simpson said: “It was totally unprovoked.

“My friend was cycling in front of me and they let him pass but then one stepped out in front of me and hit me in the face with a square-shaped metal object.

“It stopped me dead in my tracks and I fell to the ground and when I got on my feet he started swinging punches at me and the other man was wearing boots and kicked me.

“The strange thing is they then just walked off. I don't know if they wanted my bike or not but they had done the hard bit and could have just walked off with it. I think they were just looking for trouble.”

The assault happened at around 12.10am and Suffolk police are now searching for witnesses to the attack, or people who recognise descriptions of the two attackers.

Mr Simpson, of Brickfield Close, said: “I was cycling from my friend's house back to my house. It's a route I cycle regularly and although I often see drunk people walking home from town I've never had any trouble.

“The two men were dressed smart casual, as if they had been in town, and were walking from that direction.

“I went to hospital and have a broken nose with cuts on, a fractured cheek bone with scratch marks and inside my mouth is purple and blue, with blood blisters and bruising caused by the blow.

“I had a really swollen face for a while but that's fortunately gone down.”

The first offender was white, approximately 25 years old, 5ft10ins to 6ft 1in and was wearing a light blue t- shirt, jeans and a dark baseball cap.

The second man was also white and of a similar height. He was around 23 years old and wore a dark blue denim coat, dark jeans and a t-shirt.

Anyone who witnessed the attack is asked to call Pc Catherine Steel at Ipswich police on 01473 613500.

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