The 41-year-old family man was knocked to the ground, punched, kicked and stamped on by a "wild" gang of more than 20 people – in what he said was a "totally unprovoked" attack.

Engineer Daz, from Rushymoor Avenue, was ambushed as he walked along Moss Road with two friends, towards his son's flat at 2.30am on New Year's Day, after spending an evening at a private party.

He was left with the awful facial injuries pictured above... after yet another Askern Christmas of yob shame.

Daz works as a specialist technician, making operating theatre lights.

He had left his wife Michelle, at the Moss Road home where he spent his evening, after receiving a telephone call from son Sean, 20, who had indicated he was in some kind of trouble at the flat he shares with his pregnant girlfriend Zoe.

Daz told the Newsletter: "Sean rang me because there was some commotion going on, so I set off to check my lad was all right.

"We didn't get very far and there were all these blokes running at us."

Daz added: "We tried to defend ourselves but there was no chance.

"I still have no idea why this happened – but to stamp on someone's face like that, they must be animals.

"Sean got there and tried to cover me by lying over my head, but they had a go at him too.

"I remember the blows, then I must have blacked out because the next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance."

He went on: "There's too much of this going on around Askern. Sean will move now... he'll have to, but we won't let this get to us."

Michelle, 37, said: "We live quietly and mind our own business. Daz is a hard working family man and has never been in any bother.

"We don't even often go out. We've never had a confrontation with anyone.

"Daz was just in the wrong place at the wrong time – the men that did this don't know him from Adam!

"I'm still in shock and the kids have been really upset. It's not the best start to the New Year."

Although the couple have lived in Askern over 10 years, and have four children between them, aged between 12-20, they say that because they are originally from Barnsley, there is a minority who would hold that against them.

Michelle added: "We have lovely neighbours, but there is some small mindedness out there. There are vicious beatings in Askern and it's a shame they keep getting away with it. But we won't be intimidated."

Daz, who works in Leeds, making specialised lighting for hospital operating theatres, was released from Doncaster Royal Infirmary after several hours, during which his battered face was taped together.

* Earlier on New Year's Eve, six police cars and two ambulances had attended an incident at Askern Lake, when a teenager was thought to have thrown himself in.

And there are reports of another Boxing Day beating, that again took place on Moss Road.

Steve and Linda Scace of the Railway Hotel on Moss Road said they were sickened by the attack on the Burbecks, whom they described as "a lovely quiet couple with a nice family".

Let's unite to beat the yobs says Steve

PUB landlord Steve Scace is calling for a united front from fellow publicans - in a bid to stamp out the growing violence in the town.

More gang attacks between Boxing Day and New Year have led Steve and wife Linda, Askern's longest serving publicans, to speak out.

"There's too much trouble, it's terrible round here," said Steve.

"We need to stand together and keep up communication. If we all turn people out, the minute there's any kind of fracas, we'll stop it before it escalates further.

"On Boxing Day we shut our front doors at 10.30pm, so we could keep tabs on who was coming in. If we all act responsibly it's got to help in the long run.

"Ian and Tracy Smith at the Red Lion have been there eight years, and I know that they are with me on this. We have a strong pubwatch scheme, but we need to make it work.

"At present, we're not picking up the phone and warning others if there are potential troublemakers about. We all need to do that, as much to protect ourselves as anything."

He claimed: "People don't always want to admit they've got a problem in their pubs, but we've got to change things and gel together more.

"We have a responsibility to drinkers, and if someone is injured in our pub they are entitled to take you to court for neglect. We've all got to follow the same line and be tough."

Despite the trouble at intervals on the streets outside, Boxing Day gave the Railway Hotel its highest takings for 11 years, although New Year's Eve was quiet.

"It's a hard time for all publicans at the moment, as many people are choosing to stop in and have a drink," said Steve. "But Punch Taverns have come up with a deal for us that puts a pint of John Smiths at £1.89 and Fosters at £1.99, which is a 40-50p saving each time.

"That, along with the huge number of clubs and activities we have, is keeping us going."

Tracy Smith of the Red Lion said the pub closed early on Boxing Day, at 11.10pm, because of a gang mass.

"We're not prepared to put up with trouble, and after eight years, we know where to draw the line," she said.

"We were not happy with the six police cars and two ambulances out front on New Year's Eve, because it was nothing to do with us. A lad jumped in the lake but he had not been in here," she added.

White Hart landlady Mandy Beaumont was planning to leave the pub, after just a year, before Christmas.

But Punch have also agreed a deal with her, to encourage her to stay, so she is giving the pub, nicknamed the 'Fight Hart', another go.

"I'm still negotiating, but I'm going to be stopping a while yet," she said. "It was relatively quiet over Christmas. We only saw a few
scuffles."