A man with a rare form of diabetes today told how he could have been blinded by a thug who repeatedly punched him in the face.
Michael Lara, 41, of Lambourne Crescent, Vange, is now afraid those responsible may strike again.
He was hit in the face after a car pulled in front of him in a car park at Great Oaks, Basildon, and the driver opened his door into his Ford Mondeo.
Victim - Michael Lara reveals the damage to his face after the car park attack Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
Father-of-three Mr Lara said: "I said 'watch what you are doing mate, you just hit the car with your door.'
"He argued he hadn't and the driver got out and shouted to his friend 'oh he is one of them.'
"He then pushed his friend out of the way, opened the door, leaned in and hit me in the face several times." Mr Lara suffers from a form of diabetes for which he has had laser treatment on his eyes for seven years.
He says any stress on the eyes could result in bleeding and then blindness.
Published Thursday October 17, 2002
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