by Karina Barker

A council workman was assaulted twice in one day - because the toilets he was cleaning were closed after vandalism.

The 69-year-old man was cleaning the public toilets at Cecil Street, Margate on Thursday morning when the attacks occurred.

The men’s toilets had been put out of action the night before after a toilet roll dispenser was set alight, badly damaging a cubicle.

At around 8.30am on Thursday, the cleaner was approached by a man who wanted to use the toilets.

When he told him they were shut the man pushed the workman in the chest and walked off.

About two hours later, at around 10.30am, a different man tried to use the toilets.

When he too was told they were closed, he punched the workman in the chest and went in to use them anyway.

The first man was in his 50s, slim, unshaven with dark hair.

He was wearing a red ski hat, grubby jeans and a puffa-style jacket.

The second man was described as being in his late 20s, of a big build, with gelled, slicked-back hair.

He was wearing a leather jacket and spoke with a foreign accent.

PC Philip Wright, investigating, said: "We are keen to trace both offenders as this behaviour is not acceptable.

"People should be allowed to go about their work without fear of verbal or physical abuse."

Councillor Alan Poole, Thanet District Council Cabinet Member for Commercial Services, said: "I’m absolutely appalled by this unprovoked attack on a workman just doing his job trying to get these toilets ready for use.

"To be attacked in this way, by a member of the public, must have been terrifying and is totally unacceptable. If anyone has any information about this incident, I’d urge them to contact the police."

Anyone with information is asked to phone Kent Police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 quoting crime number ZY/3160/12.

Numerous incidents of vandalism in public toilets have been reported across Thanet in the last year.

The facilities are often closed for several weeks and cost thousands of pounds to repair.