Nigel FulcherWas vulnerable Nigel Fulcher beaten up by a gang of robbers because he was an easy target? FATHER-OF-ONE Nigel Fulcher is still seriously ill in hospital after his third brutal beating in 18 months.

The 37-year-old suffered a fractured jaw and skull, a blood clot on his brain, swelling and bruising after a seemingly unprovoked attack in Rivenhall Road, Westlea.

Police have linked the assault with a taxi robbery in Faringdon Road on the same night, which left another man in hospital, as the vehicle was dumped close to the scene of the beating.

Mr Fulcher, who has a seven-year-old son, Ryan, was transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford where he is in a stable condition.

The assault came after a bottle attack in July 2003 in which he was repeatedly kicked and left for dead in the town centre and, last February, he suffered a fractured jaw and eye socket following a pounding outside a Swindon pub.

His step mum, Sally, of Devonport, Plymouth, said the family was devastated.

She described him as a quiet and placid man.

"The first attack left him with no confidence and he had just started going out with a friend again," she said.

"It turned his world upside down and it's unbelievable that it has happened again.

"He can't remember anything and we're just going to have to wait to see how bad he is.

"I think the people who did this are animals I don't know how they could do it to another human being."

In December 2003, Michael Knight, a homeless 20-year-old, was sentenced to five-and-half years for the first attack in The Parade.

It left Mr Fulcher with an eight-inch cut to his head, a fractured left eye socket, a blood clot on his brain and a severely swollen face.

Although Mr Fulcher made a full physical recovery the Honda worker, of Mannington Lane, Westlea, may never be able to work again and still has trouble communicating.

And he carries a card telling shop assistants why he gets easily confused when handing over money. His step mum believes his condition could make him an easy target.

Mr Fulcher's dad, Graham, 57, a merchant seaman, who criticised the 'lenient' sentence given to Knight, heard about his son's latest ordeal at sea and is frantically trying to get home to see him.

Police are investigating links between Sunday's attack shortly after 11pm and a taxi robbery just before 11pm the same night, which left Rhana Miah in hospital.

DC Mark Wilkinson, of Swindon police, said: "If you look at the sequence of events four men were in the same area as the assault victim after the taxi was stolen."

Rhana, 38, was dragged 165 metres as he hung on to his brother's taxi, a silver Peugeot 406, on Faringdon Road to stop it from being stolen.

His brother Tony, 36, taxi driver and co-owner of the Dilraj Indian restaurant, told how he though Rhana was dead when he saw him lying in the road.

The father-of-nine was taken to the Great Western Hospital and treated for head injuries. He is in a stable condition.

Four men, who were arrested and questioned by the police in connection with the offences, have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Officers are searching for the taxi's registration plates, Y645 RNE, its licence plates, which have the number 57 on them, and a black, woolly money bag.

Anyone with information can phone Swindon police on 01793 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Ben Payne