Detectives have issued images of two men they want to speak to after thugs fractured their victim’s eye socket as they tried to steal his watch in Soho.
The man, 28, was punched several times in the face after refusing to hand over the time piece.
He is still suffering from psychological and physical effects of the assault which happened in December last year, police said.
The attempted robbery came after the attackers approached their victim and tried to talk to him but he walked off. They then hit him with a flurry of punches.
Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 1.32am on Monday, 27 December 2021.
Officers responded and found the 28-year-old victim suffering from a facial injury.
Detective Constable Christine Metz, Central West Command Unit, is investigating. She said: “This assault was unprovoked and the level of violence used was extreme and totally unnecessary.
“Robbery and violence on our streets will not be tolerated and we are doing everything we can to identify two suspects in connection with the incident. The victim still suffers from the effects of his injuries to this day. And I know that the psychological impact has remained with him since.
“I urge people to look closely at the two suspects we have circulated. They are of a good, clear quality and I’m sure someone will recognise them.”
