Thugs who targeted two students in an early morning knifepoint robbery are still at large after a suspect was released without charge.

An 18-year-old was beaten unconscious after trying to fight off the bandana-clad attackers in Gillingham Park.

The offenders reportedly had their collars up and held a knife to one teenager’s neck, demanding he hand over his wallet.

The other teenager was robbed of his mobile phone, a silver necklace and his wallet containing £30 and a cash card.

He was left with severe cuts and bruises in the attack at 5am on July 23. The pair had been with others at The Tap ‘n’ Tin in Chatham.

Police arrested a 22-year-old man two days later but he was released without charge when he reported for bail at the weekend.

At the time, the father of one victim, who asked not to be named, said: “They kicked and beat him and stamped on his face and have left a shoe print on his face.

“My son luckily doesn’t have any broken bones and was discharged from hospital later the same day.

“These people are scum and need to be arrested.”