A WINDOW cleaner had his teeth kicked out by yobs who punched him to the ground as he walked home with a chip supper for his girlfriend.

The four teenaged robbers also left Iain Dewhurst with cracked ribs after attacking him for just £10 - which they used to buy a takeaway of their own.

The 47-year-old was left unable to work for several months after the attack in Blackburn on November 30 2006 and had to pay out over £700 to have his teeth replaced.

He relived the horrific attack as his four attackers pleaded guilty to robbery at Preston Crown Court.

After the case, Det Con Lee Eckersley of Lancashire Police, said: "This was a horrific and completely unprovoked attack.

"As soon as these people saw Iain, the plan was made to attack him and take whatever property he had on him."

Mr Dewhurst, a self employed window cleaner who lives off Preston New Road, said: "I didn't see them coming at me. They just jumped me from behind and I was punched to the ground. They were kicking and punching me, asking for money. I only had a tenner on me.

"It has cost me financially, because I have had to pay for my own dental work, but there have been other effects. I don't go out after dark unless I am in my car and my partner worries about me until I get home."

Mr Dewhurst had bought supper for himself and his partner and was walking down Granville Road when he noticed a group of young men nearby.

"They were standing on opposite sides of the road, almost like they were surrounding me to round me up," said Mr Dewhurst.

"They were winking at each other from across the street.

"I didn't do anything because you can't just accuse people of being up to something because they are out on the street.

"Then they attacked me."

Mr Dewhurst, who is also a full time carer for his disabled partner, had been the victim of an attempted robbery less than two weeks before the attack.

He said: "I just thought 'Oh no not again.' A gang had come after me after I left a cash machine near Silas Road but fortunately someone disturbed them and they ran off.

"I think they were watching and targeting people."

Mr Dewhurst's injuries forced him to take time of work and he could only eat soft food and drink threw a straw for weeks afterwards.

He said: "I couldn't go to work as I couldn't lift the ladders onto the roof of my car because my ribs hurt so much.

"My face was all bruised so I couldn't really present myself to customers like that."

Two teenagers, aged 16 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, a 17-year-old, who cannot be named, and Yasin Ali, 18, Preston New Road, Blackburn, all pleaded guilty to the offence after they were caught on CCTV.

They will be sentenced next week.

DC Eckersley, of Lancashire Police, added: "Not only did Iain physically suffer the intense pain of the assault but due to the damage done to his back by the constant kicks this has forced him off work for several months and has had an impact on him financially.

"This coupled with caring for his disabled partner must have put a huge strain on him."