A MAN who is fighting for his life in hospital was the victim of a ‘sustained and horrific’ attack with a wooden weapon, police said today (Monday, February 3).

Gerard Williams, who detectives believe was deliberately targeted, suffered fractures to his skull, arms and legs as a result of the brutal attack.

The 43-year-old father-of-three is in an induced coma at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough after police discovered him laid badly beaten on grassland in the Whinney Banks area of the town on Thursday evening.

Detective Inspector Mark Dimelow, of Cleveland Police’s major crime unit, urged members of the public to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of whoever carried out the assault.

He said: “This has been a sustained and horrific attack which has resulted in him being hospitalised with fractures to the skull, arms and legs, and he is currently in an induced coma.”

Mr Williams was known to the police but DI Dimelow said they were not ruling out anything that at the moment as the motive for the attack.

“The reality is that no one deserves to be treated in this way. No matter who they are,” he said. “Gerard Williams is in a coma and I have a team of dedicated staff working on this case and I am determined to find who is responsible for this attack.”

Eyewitnesses told The Northern Echo that Mr Williams was on a grassy patch of land in Weatherhead Avenue at about 7.45pm on Thursday when he attacked with a baseball bat by a man wearing overalls.

The crime scene was cordoned off with tape while officers combed the grass for evidence.

Officers are searching CCTV footage from the area in an attempt to identify the attacker and door to door inquires were carried out by officers on Friday.

Urging members of the Whinney Banks community to come forward with information, DI Dimelow said: “I would like to reassure residents in the area that they are not in danger as we believe this was a targeted assault.

“I believe that there will be people who know what happened and would urge them to come forward and give us that information.”

Anyone with information about the violent assault is urged to contact the major incident room on 01642-303235 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.