A teenager with learning disabilities has spoken out about a vicious attack in which he was kicked by thugs who threw dog poo at him.

James Lane, an 18-year-old student at Canterbury College who lives in Tankerton with a carer, has learning disabilities as well as a speech impediment and a cleft palate.

On Sunday evening, he had been enjoying the bank holiday sunshine at Duncan Down, Whitstable, with two friends who also have learning disabilities - when they were targeted by two young men in an incident his sister has described as a "hate crime".

James Lane describes the vicious attack

James said: "We were minding our own business, and these boys came up to us and started harrassing us. They kicked my mate in the back and threw dog poo at him.

"Then one came right up to me and said 'what are you going to do?'

"One of them pinched my ear, and I pushed him away and it all kicked off.

"They kicked me in the eye, knocked me in the face, knocked me a couple of times around my ears.

"At the end of the day, me and mates hadn't done anything wrong to them. It's really, really out of order to people with specials needs.

"It did feel like a vicious attack, big time.

"It felt like they were hurting me on purpose. It isn't really fair at all. I was minding my own business and they came up to me and attacked me.

"My family were really worried. My mum was crying her eyes out.

"It's got me a bit nervous around other people now. It might happen to me again but I still go out, do what I have to do.

"I want to put the awareness out there, that some people are going to hate special needs people who are different.

"But it isn't our fault - we can't help the way we are.

"I am fine, but deep down inside me I am a bit scared because I don't want this to happen all over again.

"I'm going into college next Monday once my eye has healed a bit more and I feel ready to talk about it to anyone who asks me about it.

"I hope the people who did it get arrested. Hopefully we can find out who they are and report them to the police.

"I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else because someone because they might end up really badly hurt."

James's sister Amy, 21, described the incident as a "hate crime" and said it has made her family worried about James' future.

She said: "He's really shaken up by it. He's really an enclosed person anyway, and this has really taken a toll on him. It's just not fair.

"Now me and my family are concerned about his next step in life. How his confidence is going to be knocked, if he's going to be worried about being in certain areas - areas where he grew up. It's just not fair.

"We really want anybody with information to come forward so we can get it sorted and James can be at ease."

After the incident, James was taken to Estuary View health centre where he was checked over by medics.

"Luckily he just had cuts and bruising," said Amy. "It could have been so much worse."

Police are investigating the assault.

The first suspect is described as a white boy with a slim build, 5ft 5ins tall, aged around 17 or 18 years old. He was wearing a white hat, grey shorts and grey shirt.

The second boy was also white and of similar age and height. He had a medium build and black hair and was wearing a blue t-shirt and blue shorts.

Anyone with information regarding the assault is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/76941/19.

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