POLICE/GETTY Falklands veteran Mark Bailey needed 28 stitches after being brutally mugged

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Mark Bailey, 52, was left needing 28 stitches in his face and a suffered a fractured skull and eye socket in the horrific attack as he walked home from a night out with friends. Detectives believe his attacker used a blunt object to batter the ex Royal Navy marine mechanic. Today, ten days after the incident, Mr Bailey said he was unaware of how bad his injuries were until he looked in the mirror and saw himself as "unrecognisable".

Speaking from his home in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, where he is recovering from his injuries, Mr Bailey said: "I just remember being on my hands and knees and my hands were wet. "I got myself home and looked in the mirror and I just thought 'oh my god'. I was unrecognisable. I didn't think it was me in the mirror. "It was so strange - I couldn't recognise myself. It's only been the last couple of days I've started to look like me. "I was completely covered in blood, my ear was something like three times the size and my eyes had swollen up.

"I still can't believe it happened."

I was completely covered in blood Veteran Mark Bailey

Mr Bailey had been on a night out with friends in Peterborough when he was attacked on his way home. After waking up in the middle of the pavement, he managed to get himself home - calling his stepdad for help when he saw the extent of injuries. He was taken to hospital where spent five days recovering after having 28 stitches to his face.

GETTY The former Royal Navy marine mechanic was 'unrecognisable' after the violent mugging

Mr Bailey said: "I was hit by something heavy like a bat or a hammer. But I just can't remember anything. "I always take notice of where I am but I don't remember a thing. I just feel lucky things things weren't much worse." The building project manager said he had never encountered any sort of violence in the area before. Mr Bailey joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17 and now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran was involved in the Falklands war and is a survivor from the HMS Sheffield which was struck by an Exocet missile and sunk in 1982. During the attack off the Falklands islands he had to attempt to fight the fire that consumed the ship. However this was called off an eventually a rescue vessel came alongside it and he had to jump across. The violent mugging, which happened at around 12.05am on April 29, has dredged up bad memories of the fire on the destroyer.

GETTY The war hero survived the bombing of HMS Sheffield during the Falklands War

He said: "I'm made of pretty strong stuff because of my experiences. I don't feel frightened but I am a bit nervous. "I started having panic attacks in 2004 and I know how to deal with them now. I go and see family or friends and sit with them until they go. "I just want the people who did this caught. I don't anyone else to go through what I have." In future he says he may be "more cautious" but he does not intend to let it stop him from going out.