AN assault victim had to bite the cheek of his attacker in order to escape.

The 64-year-old man was walking along a footpath leading from High Street to the Co-op car park in Studley when he was approached from behind by three men.

One knocked him to the ground, jumped on top of him and punched him several times in the head, say police.

The other two men are not believed to have been involved in the actual assault and one started shouting: "Leave him alone. It can't be him, he's too old".

The victim eventually bit the attacker on the cheek and all three casually walked away in the direction from which they had come.

The victim rang the police from home who immediately carried out an area search.

He suffered severe bruising and cuts to his left eye and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The attack happened at about 11.20pm on Friday, December 10.

A Warwickshire Police spokesman said: "He has no idea why this incident happened and does not know the three men involved.

"It appears it may be a case of mistaken identity."

The attacker is described as white, 6ft 2ins tall, well built, with very short brown hair, clean shaven, and about 24-25 years old. He was wearing a grey and white jumper.

The other two men were also white.

Studley community beat officer Pc Peter Essex is appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

He can be contacted on 01926 415000 extension 4836 or voicemail 10781.