Rob White, 21, was punched in the head eight times before his attacker lashed out with a screwdriver.

The attack happened at Somerfield petrol station, Balcombe Road, just before 10pm on Friday (June 20).

The victim suffered several wounds to his thigh and scratches to his face and hand.

Shocked Rob said: "He leant in and started hitting me without saying a word. He punched me through the window then leant back out of the car and tried to stab me with a screw driver 30 to 40 times.

""It was terrifying, he was really going for it. I felt the pain in my thigh saw six inches of chrome then knew he was trying to stab me."


A Sussex Police spokesman said: "At 10 pm on Friday police received a report from a male stating that his friend had just been attacked whilst sitting in his car at the Texaco petrol station on the Balcombe Road, Pound Hill.

"The victim stated that he had been punched several times to the face and head and stabbed in the leg with some sort of implement. The offender ran off from the petrol station.

"Local police units attended and immediately began a search of the area.

"Subsequently a local man has been arrested. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries into this matter."

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