A Hampshire dad has spoken of the moment a thug attacked him with a bottle, leaving him with a permanent scar.

The 24-year-old called Sean, who does not want to reveal his last name, had been trying to stop a gang of three youths damaging cars in Eastleigh.

His girlfriend had already shouted at the yobs, who were smashing glass on vehicles, and was verbally abused as a result.

Sean then chased them to an alleyway between York Road and South Street, where one of the group hit him over the head with a bottle – causing a deep eight-inch gash across his forehead.

Sean said: “I chased them down this alley and one of them hit me on the head with a bottle.

“I managed to grab him and I pushed him against the fence and I managed to get him down on the floor.

“I was covered in blood and then one of his mates, who also had a bottle, came back.

“My girlfriend saw and told me to leave it and then they ran off.

“I had to have ten stitches and I’ve spoken to the doctors and they reckon the scar is going to stay there now.”

The person that attacked Sean is described as a thin white man, aged between 18 and 22, who was wearing a dark waterproof hooded jacket.

Detective Sergeant Phil Jones, who is investigating the assault, said: “The victim has sustained a very serious wound to his head and is going to be left with a scar for the rest of his life.

“We’re desperate to identify the offender in this attack.”

The attack happened at about 8pm on Saturday, October 13.

Anyone with information should call Eastleigh CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.