A DRIVING instructor who moved to Herne Bay from London to escape violent crime, has spoken of his shock at being mugged and beaten up in broad daylight.

Mark Harkins, 33, was walking through the town just after 2pm when he was pounced on by two men in their early 20s.

They punched him in the head, kicked him in the ribs and left him semi-conscious on the floor as they fled with a wallet containing £380 cash.

Mark alerted police and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.

He said: "It all happened in the blink of an eye.

"It was the last thing you'd expect. Especially at that time of day in broad daylight."

Mark had just drawn cash out of the HSBC bank when he was attacked in Victoria Park.

He said: "I was walking back to my car and saw these two blokes in front of me.

"I can't remember if they were standing still or walking towards me, but I tried to squeeze through the middle of them.

"Then suddenly one of them punched me in the back of the head, and then I felt another two or three blows.

"I was on the floor and being kicked in the ribs.

"I don't know if I lost consciousness or was a bit dazed, but I kind of came too and couldn't see a soul.

"I picked up my glasses, got in my car and drove straight to the police station.

"But it was closed from 2pm to 3pm so I had to ring the bell. A woman took me inside and called an ambulance."

Mark was taken to Thanet hospital and treated for his injuries.

He said: "They x-rayed my face to see if I had a broken cheekbone and basically checked me over.

"Luckily there were no serious injuries.

"My head was still throbbing and my eyesight was blurry so they told me to go home and rest.

"It knocked me for six for a couple of days."

Amazingly, Mark says he moved down from London to escape violent crime.

He said: "I moved down in September 2007 to get away from it all.

"So it's a massive shock for something like this to happen in Herne Bay. It was so unexpected.

"I don't know if they were chancers or had watched me getting the money out at the cashpoint.

"I was rushing around between lessons so wasn't really paying attention to anyone.

"I'll certainly be a lot more wary now and on my toes when I go out."

Mark's attackers are described as white and aged about 20.

One was about 6ft tall with a shaved head. He was wearing a blue tracksuit top with white lines on the inside of the arm.

The other man was of slim build and about 6ft 2ins tall. He had short, black untidy hair and wore a grey hooded top with the hood down.

Anyone with information about the March 18 attack should call Detective Constable Ron Smith on 01227 868296 quoting reference number EY/004569/09.