A man had to have 23 stitches after being slashed across the face in a terrifying unprovoked attack as he walked through Sutton town centre.

Dean Brooks was walking past the cinema in St Nicholas Way just before 2.20am on Friday, April 25, when he was approached by two men.

They attacked him with a knife, leaving him with cut wounds from his hairline to his nose.

His friends called emergency services and he was taken to hospital for treatment. Doctors were forced to shave off some of his hair before putting 23 stiches in the wound.

The 23-year-old said he was disappointed by the police's reaction to the brutal assault, claiming no one had taken a statement from him or the friends who witnessed the attack.

He also said a police "courtesy call" to check how he had been dealt with had been his only contact with the force since the night of the incident.

Dean, who cannot remember the attack because he had been drinking, said: "I am definitely scarred for life. I'm a bit disappointed with the police. It was nearly two weeks ago but they still haven't taken a statement from me or my mates who do remember the attack, and they said they had no CCTV. I don't think the blokes that did it will be caught.

"The police will arrest you for being drunk and disorderly but when you're stabbed in the face you don't hear from them.

"I've been waiting for the investigating officer to contact me but I think he's on holiday. I got a call on Wednesday morning from someone asking how I felt about how the investigation was being dealt with and I had to say it was the first time I'd heard from them."

A spokesman for Sutton police confirmed the attack was unprovoked. He added that the police had contacted Dean for a statement and that his clothing had been taken for testing.

"Police conducted a wide search of the area looking for the suspects," he said.

If you witnessed the assault, or have any information about the assault, contact Sutton CID on 020 8649 0747. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.