A gang of yobs who pushed a cyclist into a canal leaving him struggling to get out of the water have struck at least five times, police revealed today.

Peter Bettell told the Standard last week how he was returning to his canal boat home in Kensal Rise when a gang punched him and slashed open his jacket before pushing him into the icy water. He desperately fought to reach the bank with his shoes clipped to the pedals of his bike.

Now police investigating the incident have identified four other cases of cyclists being pushed into the Grand Union Canal.

All the incidents took place in February at different points along the Grand Union Canal and all involved attacks on lone male cyclists aged between 35 and 49 years old.

Inspector Anna Brennan, who heads the Westminster Safer Neighbourhoods team investigating the attacks, said: “These incidents have been very unpleasant for the victims, who may have not suffered particularly serious injuries, but they have been left frightened and highly traumatised by what has happened to them.”

Mr Bettell, 53, told how he was returning to his canal boat home along the towpath in Kensal Rise on February 23 when a gang punched him and slashed open his jacket before pushing him into the icy water.

He said: “I was cycling home along the towpath and saw this group who looked really menacing. I thought of turning back but I guessed that these people fight other gangs and would not worry me.

“The next thing I knew I was in the water struggling to breathe. I was attached to the pedals of my bike with clips so struggled to release them. It was touch and go whether I could get out.”

He described how he was rescued by a young girl who hauled him out of the water, saying she probably saved his life.

Mr Bettell said he was left so shaken by the assault that he was moving his boat out of London and he planned to commute to his retail job in Piccadilly.

Police have stepped up patrols along the towpath and put in place a dispersal order to allow them to move on groups of youths.

Inspector Brennan said: “I would appeal directly to the persons responsible for these attacks to give serious thought to what they did, and just how dangerous it is. Pushing strangers into a canal is not funny, and could have very serious consequences.

“Whilst the water is not particularly deep, it is still very dangerous for anyone who cannot swim or anyone who has suffered an injury. One victim had his feet clipped into his pedals which made getting out of the water very difficult.

“Our work to reassure people using the area around the canal continues and officers are out patrolling and speaking to people and we are reviewing CCTV. “

She urged any witnesses or anyone with information to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Have you been a victim of the gang? Contact the Evening Standard newsdesk on 02036152500.