A MAN who was attacked by a hooded gang as he walked home from work has issued a warning to others to be vigilant.

The victim, who has chosen to speak anonymously, was attacked in North Countess Road, Walthamstow, at 8.30pm on Monday, March 13.

The man, who is originally from South Africa, has been living in the UK for 10 years and recently bought a house in Walthamstow.

After one member of the gang knocked him to the floor, injuring his back, the victim ran from the scene and raised the alarm.

He said: “I was walking from Blackhorse Road station because the bus was taking too long. I had my headphones on and I was on my mobile phone.

“The next think I felt an arm coming around my neck and they threw me onto the ground and I saw there were three others with him. They were sizing me up.

“They all had scarves around the bottom of their faces and hoods over the tops. I jumped up and ran home and called the police.

“People need to know and be aware that this is not an isolated incident. Others in the area have told me similar things have happened to them. These people are opportunists and they think they have the right to take things from others.”

The victim’s Beats headphones fell off when he hit the ground and were left at the scene. After the police arrived they drove him around the area looking for the gang and the headphones but had no luck.

He said the attack has made him nervous about going out alone in Walthamstow.

He said: “I hit my back on the ground and I have to go to a chiropractor as a lump has appeared on the bone.

“I won’t walk from the station again and it makes me nervous even walking to the shop. I don’t know what the guys’ faces look like but they know what I look like so if they saw me in a shop they could recognise me. It doesn’t make me feel comfortable.

“My partner was really upset by it and told me not to use my headphones or phone on the street again. But I was very lucky.”

Although the man has been mugged a number of times when he lived in his native South Africa, he said it was the last thing he expected to happen in Walthamstow.

He added: “In South Africa it happened to me a lot but London has always felt safe to me.

“When I told my parents back in South Africa they were surprised. They had a burglary and an attempted hijacking recently but they’ve always felt very safe here when they visit me.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers attended and searched the area for the suspects, one of whom is described as black. They added: “At this time all lines of enquiries have been explored; should more information come to light it will be pursued.”

Two days before the victim was attacked a man in his 30s suffered head injuries in an attack in Higham Hill Road, Walthamstow. The man was assaulted by a gang of four hooded men and was taken to hospital.