A man was abducted from a residential area and hit around the head with blunt weapons until he was unconscious, say police.

The 22-year-old was today in a critical condition in the neurosurgery unit of Oldchurch Hospital in Romford and has still not regained consciousness.

He was attacked in South Ockendon at around 11.25am on Friday.

He was bundled into a maroon Vauxhall Frontera 4X4 in Daiglen Drive and hit around the head with what police believe were blunt weapons.

He was put between two men in the back and a third man was driving. However, by the time he was dumped in Dawley Green, there were only two men in the vehicle.

An ambulance was called and the man was taken Basildon Hospital, but doctors found his brain was bleeding and had him transferred to Oldchurch Hospital.

Police are unclear as to what happened in the vehicle because the victim is still unconscious.

A maroon Frontera was later found abandoned in Arisdale Avenue, South Ockendon, and police have taken it for forensic investigation.

Witnesses have described two suspects - a man aged between 35 and 45, possibly with facial hair, and a man in his late-20s to late-30s, of muscular build, with short hair and wearing a light blue top.

Police would like to speak to anyone with information on the incident or who was near any of the three areas between the late morning and early afternoon on Friday.

Call 01375 391212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Published Monday, June 9, 2003

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