A mum has told how a padded jacket saved her son’s life after two thugs jumped him in a shocking unprovoked attack.
Lewis McGinty, 21, was walking his girlfriend’s dog in Alexandria, near his home, on Sunday night when the men jumped him.
He managed to flee and escaped with only scratches which mum Michelle McGinty was only thanks to the thick padded jacket he was wearing, which was slashed during the attack.
Lewis, who is preparing to welcome his first child, has been left shaken up by his ordeal.
Former West Dunbartonshire councillor Michelle said: “Lewis is very lucky he wasn’t seriously injured. It’s scary because it was a completely unprovoked attack.
“He was standing on the grass waiting on the dog and he saw two people walking down the street. The next thing, he heard footsteps behind him and the two boys were right there.
“He went down on the ground, put his hands over his head to protect himself and curled himself up in a ball as they tried to stab him.
“We don’t know what they had but they must have had some kind of weapon because it’s torn his jacket. One tried to jump on his head and stumbled and he was able to run away.
“He said it all happened so quickly. He was wearing a thick padded North Face jacket and I think that saved his life but others might not have been so lucky.”
Lewis suffered a bump to his head and has scratch marks on his arms and his chest, which could have been much more severe.
She added: “Everyone who knows Lewis know he has autism and is not a fighter so it was an absolute liberty what they did.
“He’s a big gentle giant and isn’t confrontational at all.
“He didn’t even fight back, he just rolled into a ball to protect himself and ran away at the first opportunity.
Speaking yesterday, he told the Lennox he didn’t see any of the attackers with a weapon but believe they tried to stab him due to a small cut on his chest and his damaged jacket.
He said: “One of them punched me in the head and then I went down to the floor to protect myself. They were kicking me and one tried to jump on my head but missed and that’s when I ran.
“When I got back to the house I saw I had marks on my body and my jacket was torn. I feel alright though I’m a bit sore.”
Police Scotland has launched an appeal for information with a description of the two men following the attack.
A spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland can confirm they are investigating an unprovoked assault which occurred just after 8pm on Sunday, March 6 in North Street near to Lennox Street, where a 21-year-old male was assaulted by two males, who punched and kicked him to the head and body.
“Fortunately the victim was not seriously injured but has been left shaken by the ordeal.
“The suspects are described as male, white, in early 20s around 5’10” tall, one was wearing a blue coloured tracksuit and the other a black Adidas top and black trousers.”
Cops want anyone with information to get in touch: “Police are appealing to witnesses or members of the public with any information to contact police or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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