A MAN who was stabbed and repeatedly beaten by a gang of youths after refusing to give them a mobile phone has spoken of his terror.

Richard Finch, 43, from Yeading, said he was walking with his Asian friend, Jay, along Wayfarer Road in Northolt at about 4.50pm on Saturday when a white man approached them.

He said the man accused Jay of stealing a van, but Mr Finch told him that his friend does not drive. The man then tried to steal Jay's phone but the friends managed to prevent him and he left.

Mr Finch said: "The next minute we heard shouting and when we turned around we saw a group of seven or eight white youths with hockey sticks and bats coming towards us.

"We ran down an alley and, danger-ously, crossed the A312 and then to an alley in Maple Road (in Yeading), but were caught in a dead end. They kept hitting us. If you looked into their eyes it was just mad, pure hatred, pure evil.

"Then I saw blood and said to my friend: 'I think you've been stabbed' and he said: 'No, look, it's you'.

"When I looked at my leg, there was blood gushing out. I must have lost at least three pints of blood. All of them ran off and we shouted out 'cowards' after them.

"The blood was pumping out of my jeans, it was all over my hands and I kept telling my friend, 'I'm going to die'.

"We were trying to call the ambulance but neither of us had reception on our phones and so I stumbled to my house, which wasn't far."

Mr Finch was taken to Hillingdon Hospital, where he was told that the wound at the top of his left leg was 2.5in deep, and had reached his pelvis.

He said: "The muscles had to be sewn together and I've had five stitches on the outside. I discharged myself from hospital even though I was advised not to, but I feel my home is cleaner.

"The blood trail was so thick the police actually followed it to my house, but I can't believe how little action they are taking. They haven't made any door-to-door enquiries so far, even though we've suggested addresses, and they have only visited us once and that was in hospital for five minutes."

A spokesman for the police said: "If the victim has any concerns he is more than welcome to raise these concerns with Hillingdon Police, who will investigate them."

So far the motive for the attack is unclear. Investigating officers are appealing for witnesses. If you have any information call Hillingdon CID on 020 8246 1447 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.