A student told a court today how he was attacked by two “uneducated” men who kicked and punched him on the ground.

Kentaro Ikeda said the two men forced him to stop on an Oxford path and grabbed his belongings before attacking him.

The 27 year-old, who at the time was studying at Oxford University’s St Edmund Hall, in High Street, said the attackers told him he was “stupid” before searching through his bag, breaking his bicycle lights and tearing up his paperwork.

Thomas Mack, of Nicholas Avenue, Marston, Oxford, denies causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm with intent, and robbery.

Craig Knowles, of Oxford Road, Old Marston, Oxford, has already admitted all three charges.

In a recorded interview played to the jury at Oxford Crown Court, Mr Ikeda spoke from his hospital bed through a Japanese interpreter, who said: “They were both (the pair the prosecution allege is Mack and Knowles) involved in the attack.

“They attacked all over the body. He remembered one punch. Then he was kicked and punched in his body and head.

“They kicked his head. The men said ‘...textbooks’ when they were searching his belongings.

“He thinks he might have been grabbing their bodies but he did not hit back. Both of them looked very uneducated.”

Mr Ikeda, who needs permanent rehabilitative care, had been on his way home to Marston Road from St Edmund Hall, where he was studying.

He agreed with the interviewing police officer, who said: “They were tearing up your paperwork and they broke both the lights on your bicycle.”

Mr Ikeda, who suffered serious brain damage in the attack, said the pair had stolen an electronic dictionary, a mobile phone and some stationery.

The jury was earlier told Mr Ikeda’s bike had not been recovered after the attack in Mesopotamia Walk, in the University Parks, at about 1.45am on July 31, last year.

During cross-examination via a live video link from Japan, Mr Ikeda agreed with Claire Fraser, defending, that his attackers were sitting by the side of the track when he rode past on his bike.

He denied suggestions that only one of the men had searched through his bag.

Earlier in the trial, John Price, prosecuting, said Knowles and Mack, both 18, hit Mr Ikeda over the head with the lock before leaving him lying unconscious and bleeding on the track.

The court heard Mr Ikeda was so badly injured he could not be flown back to Japan on a scheduled flight but had to travel by air ambulance.

The case continues.

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