A YOUNG man is recovering after he was left half-blinded by a mugger who sprayed gas in his face.

But as 29-year-old Chris Bell staggered along the street after the theft of his mobile phone, he found himself asking "Why me?" It was the second time in a month he had been attacked and robbed in Medway.

On April 10, he was forced to hand over cash after being threatened with a knife in Chatham High Street.

Then on May 12, he was sprayed in the face with an unknown gas and had his mobile phone snatched in Marlborough Road, Gillingham.

Mr Bell said: "Instead of Welcome to Medway signs saying thank you for visiting, they should read Beware of Medway."

Det Ch Insp Claire Nix said: "I’d like to assure Mr Bell that this crime is being actively investigated."

* Full story in Friday's Medway Messenger.