A serving member of the armed forces has been brutally beaten by a gang who stole his £20,000 Rolex watch in Westminster.

The victim was left with a broken nose and fractured eye socket after he was set upon by the group as he walked in the early hours of Friday, August 11.

The victim, in his 30s, had purchased the watch and intended it to be a family heirloom which he would pass down to his son.

Police say he is “devastated” following the attack.

He had been making his way home alone from a night out with friends when he was approached by a man and a woman in Hanover Square at around 2.45am, who began walking and talking with him.

Shortly after five males followed them and set-upon the victim in Brook Street, pushing him to the floor.

They then surrounded him and started to punch and kick the victim before stealing the watch from his wrist and fleeing the scene.

One of the men people police want to speak to after a man in his 30s, suffered a broken nose and fractured eye socket as he had his £20,000 Rolex watch stolen

The five males fled in the direction of Park Lane and the original man and woman left in the direction of St George’s Street.

More of the people police want to speak to

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and took the victim to a central London hospital with a broken nose and a fractured eye socket.

The attack happened on Brook Street, Westminster

DC Daniel Northcott, the investigating officer from Westminster CID , said: “The victim, who is a serving member of the armed forces, had purchased the watch as a family heirloom to pass down to his young child and is extremely devastated by the loss.

Police have issued images and footage of people they want to speak to after a man was badly beaten and had his £20,000 watch stolen

"It has caused considerable emotional distress amongst the victim and his family.

“I would appeal to anyone who recognises the people in the CCTV to contact us so we can speak to them about the incident and bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice.”

Police want to speak to a group of people after a military man was badly beaten in Westminster

Anyone who recognises the people in the CCTV or has any information can call Westminster CID on 020 7321 7589 or 101 or Tweet @MetCC.

Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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