YOB culture has reared its ugly head in Westbury after hooded thugs attacked and threatened to kill their terrified victim.

Justin Milne, 30, from Trowbridge, says his confidence has been shattered since the attack.

He was walking to his girlfriend's house in Westbury, around 1pm last Sunday, after spending the evening with a friend. He noticed two men hanging around kicking about a temporary diversion sign on the junction between Haynes Road and West End.

"I crossed over to the other side of the road because I knew they were troublemakers and I didn't want any problems," Mr Milne said.

"As I walked past one of them he started shouting and followed me down the road.

"By the time I reached West End I was getting near my girlfriend's house and I just wanted to pacify them.

"His mate who had been hanging back just came from nowhere while I was distracted and knocked my teeth out.

"They both started dancing around me and pretending to hit me, trying to make me flinch.

"This went on for about five minutes and at the same time they started saying they would kill me and rape my girlfriend if I told the police."

He lost his front tooth, split his lip and was taken to the Royal United Hospital, in Bath. A witness who saw the attack has yet to come forward and police are urging him to do so.

Mr Milne said the unprovoked assault has left him frightened to leave his house.

"I was riding my motorbike through Trowbridge on Tuesday and it broke down," he said. "While I was waiting for my friend to come and pick me up I was feeling really nervous.

"I shouldn't have to feel like that. I'm 30 years old and 6ft 4ins tall, why should I have to feel afraid?"

Yob culture hit the headlines last month after the Bluewater shopping centre, in Kent, banned youths from wearing hooded tops and caps. Mr Milne said he thought it had all been blown out of proportion until he was brutally attacked.

Both attackers were white with local accents and aged around 20.

One attacker had olive skin, with a couple of days' stubble. He was wearing a dark jacket and dark hooded top with the hood up. The other was around 5ft 4ins, wearing a light jacket, white trainers and a fair complexion, with ginger or blonde hair.

Sergeant Jim Stannard, from Westbury police, said: "My concern is that we have a witness who stood by and saw this. We believe Westbury to be safe place with community minded members of the public.

"We will try and prevent anti social behaviour but if people are not coming forward they are condoning the actions of these offenders."

By David Giles