Dad-of-two who tried to stop car thief is beaten so badly his family thought he'd been shot

These shocking pictures show how a brave father-of-two who tried to stop a car thief was beaten so badly his family thought he’d been shot.

Danny Mason, 37, was savagely kicked in the head ‘like a football’ when he tried to stop the crook stealing a van in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Mr Mason suffered a fractured cheek, broken nose and cut lip after he confronted the would-be-thief.

After being knocked out and stamped on repeatedly, Mr Mason woke up in hospital and has been unable to sleep or work since.

He had left a family party at around 11.45pm on Saturday (28/2) to have a cigarette when he tried to stop the crook from stealing the next door neighbour’s van.

Mr Mason, who lives in Kidderminster, Worcs, said: 'I went outside for a cigarette and just heard a noise which sounded like someone trying to force a car door.

'I remembered my cousin saying they’d been a few car thefts in the area and I just shouted out 'Are you trying to break into that van?'

'A bloke appeared at the end of the driveway and just held up his hands and smiled and said 'yeah I am, fair enough'.

'He seemed quite friendly at first and I said to him “Look you can’t go around stealing people’s cars, it’s not right”.

'He must have realised I was on my own outside because he suddenly ran towards me and punched me repeatedly.

'I must have been knocked out because I only remember seeing a policeman in hospital and he said I’d been attacked.

'Basically, he kicked my head like a football and would have carried on if a neighbour across the road hadn’t seen what was happening and called the police.

'My family didn't recognise me and at first my sister said she thought I’d been shot because my face had swelled to twice it’s normal size and I was covered in blood.'

Since the attack, forklift truck driver Mr Mason has been unable to work and he has suffered flashbacks and nightmares.

Mr Mason who lives with girlfriend Louise Murray, 37, added: 'I hope to God they find this man because he’s dangerous. He could have killed me.

'Looking back, I thought I was doing the right thing by speaking to this man, but now I am in so much pain that I cannot sleep or work.'

He was taken by ambulance to Royal Preston Hospital before being transferred to the facial injury unit at Royal Bolton Hospital.

Police have now released CCTV images of a white man around 6ft tall who they are hunting in connection with the attack.