A Dutch student has vowed never to return to England after knife-wielding thugs robbed him and hit him with a baseball bat.

The 16-year-old had a blade held to his throat when three yobs targeted him in Ashford.

A member of the boy’s host family, who did not want to be named, said: “He was shaking when he came back home.

“He now says he does not want to come back to England again."

The boy was attacked in Leacon Road, near the Matalan car park, at about 8.45pm on Wednesday last week.

He was with a friend and noticed three men who had been arguing with some men in a dark blue car, possibly a Seat Ibiza.

One of the men then shouted at the victim, pulled a knife and held it against his throat.

The teenager was then hit on the left knee with a baseball bat by a second thug.

The third man told him to hand over all his belongings, including his passport, a Nokia mobile phone, a packet of cigarettes and some lighters

The assailants ran off, away from Brookfield Road.

The victim, who has not been named, had been staying at the host’s home for five days but has now gone home.

He was part of a contingent of about 50 Dutch students from Arnhem who were staying as guests with families all over Ashford.

Anyone with information concerning this incident should contact Det Con Sidney Coffin on 01233 611055 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

See this week's Kentish Express for the full story.