A MAN was walking home with his fiancee when he was "brutally" attacked by a stranger because he didn't have a cigarette.

Johnathon Cowhig, 28, was heading home with partner Donna Johnstone after attending a wedding reception at Clock Face Labour Club, when he was struck repeatedly.

Johnathon's mum Diane says that the dad-of-five was approached by a man who asked if he had a cigarette. When Johnathon answered no, the thug launched the attack dragging him into the middle of the road and unleashing a barrage of blows.

The incident happened shortly after 10pm on Saturday on Bodden Street, Clock Face. The violence was heard by Johnathon's dad who had been on the phone to his son at the time.

Diane said: "He asked my son for a cigarette and he said I haven't got any. He was then grabbed by this man who had a hood over his head and face and thrown into the road. He dragged him along in the middle of the road.

"Two buses went past and and my daughter-in-law was screaming help trying to flag them.

"As tiny as she is, his wife tried to throw the man off and he hit her on the head."

Diane added: "We don't know who the man is. He was about the same height as my son who is 5ft 11 but a bigger build.

"They didn't recognise his voice. He walked away and ran off to Gartons Lane towards Clock Face Road and that was the last they saw of him."

Diane says the attack has had a traumatic effect on the family.

"We had grandchildren in the house and none of us could go and help," added Diane.

"My daughter, who's 24, was running round the estate looking for my son and I phoned the police.

"He was literally covered in bruises on his back, legs and arms. He had a Heavy Duty jacket on and the man has actually ripped the sleeve off.

"His fiancee is petrified of being left on her own so I've had to move in to stay with them.

"Two years ago I lost one of my daughters with a head injury due to an aneurysm.

"Because he had been battered around the head I was panicking. It does frighten me when it's a head injury."