A teenager who was left with a broken jaw after a random unprovoked attack has spoken out about the incident.

Sam Mason was attacked from behind as he walked up Queen Street, Gravesend, between 3am and 3.10am on Sunday, May 5, after leaving Blake's nightclub.

The brutal assault left Sam, 18, from Northfleet, needing surgery to fit a metal plate in his jaw, but he says the emotional impact has been equally severe.

"I'd been to Blake's and I was just walking up with my friends," he recalled. "All of a sudden I just felt a whack from behind on my jaw.

"I stumbled a bit and as I looked behind I saw people running back down Queen Street.

"We went down to speak to the bouncers and see if they knew what had happened but they had no idea.

"I was bleeding in my mouth and thought it was just my teeth. I went to sleep with a bad of frozen peas over my jaw because it was hurting - when I woke up it was the size of a golf ball, so I went to A&E.

"There was nothing in the club - I didn't have words with anyone. There was no confrontation. I would love to know why he did it."

Sam, who works in administration for a law firm in London, returned to work this week, two weeks after the attack.

"It's my first day back at work today, and it has knocked my confidence," he said today. "I'm finding it hard to just go around as I used to before it happened. I haven't been myself
I think it's a bit degrading; I don't know why he did it.

"Why would you cause someone that much distress and pain for no reason. If he had a problem why not just say so rather than run up and hit me.

"It's very cowardly."

Police confirmed an 18-year-old man suffered a serious injury to his face in a seemingly unprovoked assault outside a nightclub in Queen Street on Sunday May 5.

They say enquiries are ongoing and witnesses or anyone with information should call Kent Police on 01474 366149 giving crime reference 46/88028/19.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111.