A teenager was left with huge, bloody scratches on his back and shoulder after a man hit him repeatedly with a dog chain.

Mickey Whipps, of Oldwyk, Vange, was with his girlfriend next to Basildon Golf Club when the thug swung the chain at him “in a figure of eight” – then stole his motorbike.

The 18-year-old rode past the man and sat on a bench before the lout launched the attack.

He swung the chain, hitting the teenager at least five times as he cowered on the bench, holding his hands to his face.

Mr Whipps said: “There was no disagreement about anything. I rode past him. He had two dogs with him and stepped aside to let me past.

“It all seemed calm and then he flew off the handle.

“He was swinging his arm round in a figure of eight and was hitting my back.

“I couldn’t really do anything as I was sitting on the bench. I was trying to cover my head.

“After about the fifth hit, I jumped up and he said ‘do you want your bike?’ and I said ‘yes, obviously’ but he said ‘tough’.

“My girlfriend was crying and shouting at him and he started towards her, but must have changed his mind. He picked up my bike and walked off.”

Mr Whipps was sent to Basildon Hospital by ambulance and was treated for tissue damage.

He has since been handed his bike back after two boys spotted it abandoned near the scene of the attack and their mum posted a picture on Facebook.

Mr Whipps added: “I don’t feel too bad now, as I have taken a few strong painkillers.

“But I feel distraught that it happened in front of my girlfriend.”

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating the assault, which happened in Vange at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.

“An 18-year-old man was with his girlfriend when another man approached and hit him with a dog chain.

“The man who assaulted him is white, aged 23 to 24 and was wearing a T-shirt.

“He had two Staffie-type dogs with him, one brown and one black with white spots.”

Anyone with any information is urged to contact officers at Basildon on 101 or speak to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.