A man’s head was cracked open after he was punched outside a kebab shop.

Stuart Weightman, 45, of Highfield Road, Dartford, was smacked to the ground after a fight broke out with a group of young men outside Kia Kebabs in Hythe Street, Dartford.

The structural engineer had to be taken to Darent Valley Hospital to have his head glued.

He had been out with friends when he was attacked at 11pm on August 15.

He said: “A member of staff in Kia Kebabs witnessed the incident and gave an account to the police.

“I was interviewed by police in the hospital but could not remember being assaulted because I was knocked unconscious.

“The CCTV clearly shows me being assaulted but the quality is insufficient for the face of the attacker to be identified.”

The cut to Mr Weightman’s head was caused when the force of the punch made him fall, smashing his head on a manhole cover on the pavement.

Mr Weightman, a former teacher of 11 years, added: “It was a busy evening as there were many students out celebrating, or otherwise, their A-level results.

“The member of staff from Kia Kebabs also told me that there were several young people around who also witnessed the incident.”

Town centre CCTV opposite the kebab shop was facing the other way at the time and control staff were not alerted to the incident via the Shop Safe radio network.

Now Mr Weightman is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite wished Mr Weightman a quick recovery and said he plans to intervene by using other cameras to try to track the group down.

Kent Police also appealed for witnesses to the assault.

A spokesman said: “Officers attended Hythe Street after it was reported a man was assaulted during a fight between 10.55pm and 11.06pm.

“The offender has been described as a white man, between 20 and 25, about 5ft 8in, of medium build and with short black hair.”

Anyone with any information should call PC Anna Atkinson on 01474 366381 quoting reference XY/25533/13 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.