A DISABLED man who was brutally attacked by a group of youths is slowly recovering physically from his ordeal.

But the psychological scars of that fateful night are likely to be with him for months to come, and he is finding it difficult now to leave home on his own, and living in fear of further attack.

And a fresh plea has been issued to catch the thugs who assaulted this vulnerable man.

David Chay, who is deaf and has cerebral palsy, was walking along Coulsdon Road in Caterham on June 10 when five men in their 20s approached him, demanding money.

The 52-year-old victim, who lives in Stanley Street, Caterham, was knocked to the ground.

He suffered four broken teeth, with two more dislodged, and a disjointed nose. He also bit through his top and bottom lip in the fall.

The victim's brother Mark said: "David is looking much better than he did following the attack.

"The scars are gradually healing but emotionally he is not too good. Almost four weeks after the incident he is still worried about going out of the house on his own. This has had a big impact on his life.

"Although we try and reassure him, he can't help fearing the attack will happen again."

Mark, who lives in Edenbridge, branded the assailants as "animals".

He added: "This was a cowardly and brutal attack on a man who is quite obviously disabled."

David's father Noel, who runs The Loft – a bric-a-brac shop and photographic studio in Westway – said: "My son looks much better now – he had blood all over him after the attack.

"But the mental affects of the day will take longer to heal.

"And it will cost thousands of pounds to replace his missing front teeth. David tries to remain cheery, as he always does. The only consolation is his attackers did not have a knife."

The five men are still at large. DC Peter Brayton, from Croydon CID, said: "I would urge anyone with information to come forward."

Witnesses should call Croydon police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

NEIGHBOURS of a notorious troublemaker are celebrating after he was sent to jail for theft and witness intimidation.

Steven Taylor – who police say caused "numerous problems" around Caterham – has been put behind bars for 14 weeks.

Taylor hit the headlines back in April when he complained about being the target of a police armed siege. He was subsequently charged with no offence.

The father-of-one had already been banned for three years from all 15 pubs in the Caterham-on-the-Hill area in March last year after waging a campaign of intimidating and abusive behaviour

Just 12 hours after that sentence, he was hauled before the court and jailed for six weeks after he had breached the ASBO – having walked into The Village Inn in Coulsdon Road and refused to leave, whereupon the police were called.

And now Taylor, 43, who lives in Thomas Avenue, Caterham, has been imprisoned again after he admitted charges of theft and witness intimidation when he appeared before Staines magistrates on Friday, June 28.

One neighbour in Thomas Avenue, who insisted on remaining anonymous, said: "Steven Taylor has had this coming.

"He has been a bit of a pain in the neck.

"I just hope the prison sentence knocks some sense into him, but I'm not terribly confident it will."

Other neighbours said they were too concerned to speak at any length even off the record, beyond saying they were pleased he had been locked up.

Taylor was convicted for offences in May following the theft of a coat from a store in Godstone Road, Whyteleafe, where he threatened the shop manager with violence if he reported the theft to police.

He also admitted breaching his ASBO again, after entering the King and Queen pub in High Street, Caterham-on-the-Hill, in January this year.

Detective Inspector Antony Archibald from East Surrey CID said after the verdict: "Taylor has caused numerous problems in the Caterham area.

"I hope this sentence sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate this behaviour.

"No-one should be a victim of witness intimidation.

"Anyone who unfortunately finds themselves in a situation like this should contact officers.

"We will treat all information passed to us in the strictest of confidence and fully support victims, while bringing offenders to justice."

In April last year armed officers, accompanied by a force helicopter and police dog, stormed his house.

It followed an anonymous tip-off to Crimestoppers alleging that he had threatened another man with a gun.

Police arrested him at gunpoint in Coulsdon Road soon afterwards.

He was held at Reigate police station for almost 24 hours, and the next day he was freed without charge.

Mr Taylor, who admitted he had been "no angel" in the past, approached the Mirror three years ago to protest his innocence following the shooting of building firm boss Kevin Potter.

He walked free from court in 2000 after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence on a charge of conspiracy to murder.

THE planned redevelopment of Redhill station will not threaten taxi drivers' livelihoods, according to one councillor.

Last week we reported how taxi drivers have petitioned the council over fears they will be "out of site and out of mind" when the station's rank is moved to Redstone Hill as part of the work.

But, speaking to the Mirror this week, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's executive member for property and regeneration, Councillor Natalie Bramhall, said drivers will not be left out in the cold. The new entrance on Redstone Hill will have a ten-space taxi rank, she said, and she did not rule out the possibility of new ranks being created in the town as development continues.

"We are looking at more than £100 million-worth of development coming into Redhill," she said.

"With all the new development going on we might have to look at having another rank somewhere."

She added: "I can see what the drivers are saying but I don't think they realise more people will come out the [Redstone Hill] way, it will become a better entrance. In London if you want to get a cab you follow the signs to the cab rank and we will have that too so people who come out the front of the station will be able to find the taxi rank."

Carshalton Athletic is set to welcome back midfielder Harry Harding for the start of the new season, writes James Barrett.

Harding was a Robin at the start of the 2012/13 season, making 14 appearances and scoring two goals, before becoming one of many senior players released last autumn as part of cost-cutting measures at the club.

"I feel like I have unfinished business with Carshalton because it was a shame to leave in such circumstances, but these things happen in football sometimes. I'm so excited to have my future sorted and can't wait for the season to begin," said Harding.

The energetic midfielder gave himself time away from the game earlier this year as his career becoming "a bit stop-start", but he claims Carshalton boss Tommy Williams kept in touch and is the biggest reason he re-signed for the Robins.

"I only played three games under his management last season after he took charge in October, but I feel they were my three best performances," Harding added. "I like the way he wants to play the game and he made me feel really wanted, which adds to my appetite for playing again."

Harding noted Carshalton's reprieve back into the Ryman Premier League was the other reason he signed up.

"Playing at the highest level possible is important to me so I'm glad it has panned out this way," he said. "I kept in contact with the likes of Justyn Roberts and Luke Pigden, but I'll be meeting a lot of new team-mates when I begin training this week."

Harding will be part of the Carshalton squad that plays Dulwich Hamlet in the first round of the Geoff Harvey tournament at Corinthian Casuals FC on Saturday 20th July, KO 3pm.

TRAVEL agents usually send other people on exotic trips abroad, taking in the sights and soaking up the sun.

But a team of travel agents based in Dorking will head off to Calais tomorrow (Friday), to take part in an international car rally for charity.

The group of four from Kuoni, which has its headquarters in Deepdene Avenue, will not be putting their feet up, however, as they tackle the Travel Trade Crusade for three days, visiting five European countries.

The company's managing director Derek Jones will be joined by employees Laura Daniel, Matthew May and Jemma Purvis as they aim to raise more than £2,000 for two charities.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Mr Jones said: "We are delighted to be taking part in the Travel Trade Crusade.

"This challenge has given us the opportunity to raise awareness and money for our two nominated charities, both of which are very close to our hearts.

"It is lovely to see the travel industry come together for this fun event and I look forward to seeing what challenges the organisers of the rally have in store for us."

The contest, during which points are gained by completing challenges and tallied up on a leader board between the teams, will be contested by 100 people from the travel industry.

The "Kuoni Krusaders" have already gained 20 points for being the first team to raise £1,000, and will receive additional points for completing the challenge in an old Peugeot 406.

Ms Purvis added: "We are all really excited about the rally.

"The big reveal of the car will be amazing; we plan to put grass on the roof, we have a tiger print dash and the car is installed with a sound system of animal noises.

"You won't miss us if we're driving round Dorking."

The team has nominated Bliss, which cares for premature and sick babies, and The Neuroblastoma Society, which supports those with the rare childhood cancer.

Sponsors for the team include Hills Balfour, JL Sports Cars, Six Senses, O&G, Tippett PR and Craghoppers.

You can follow them on their travels on Twitter @KuoniTravelUK, or at their blog www.kuoni.co.uk/blog

To donate to Bliss, visit www.just giving.com/kuonicrusaders

To donate to The Neuroblastomy Society, visit www.justgiving.com/kuonicrusaders2

THREE Dorking schools have welcomed a party of Chinese pupils as part of a cultural exchange programme.

The youngsters, from Changzheng Centre Primary School in the Putuo district of Shanghai, came as guests of St Martin's, St Joseph's and The Weald primary schools and enjoyed a mixture of tourist and educational activities throughout their stay.

Teachers and Year 5 pupils from The Weald kicked off the visitors' experience with a train trip to London for a bus ride, a boat trip, a picnic in St James's Park and a visit to the Science Museum.

This was followed by a day trip to Brighton for a walk on the pier and beach, a tour of the famous Lanes, a traditional fish and chip meal on the seafront and a visit to Arundel Castle.

Weald head teacher Sharon Davis said the visiting teachers told her it was the first time Chinese pupils had visited England, as far as they knew.

She told the Advertiser: "It was brilliant. The children had lots of tastes of English culture, like going shopping and bowling.

"At each school there was half a day of cultural exchange, so they showed us things and we showed them things about our cultures.

"St Joseph's did Scottish dancing and the Chinese showed them some of their traditional dances.

"Here we did PE lessons, because their PE is very different to ours. They demonstrated a keepy-uppy game which involves a weighted feather and a board where they kick things with their feet.

"We also had a Q&A session where the children asked each other lots of question. The Chinese were very interested in food, sport and hobbies."

The partnership with Changzheng, facilitated by Jennie Clarke of The Ashcombe School, has been in operation for four years and has previously seen Year 5 children visit China.

Mrs Davis hosted five Chinese children at her home throughout their stay whom she said were "a delight" throughout.

She said: "We put them up in our homes to cut down on the costs and to allow them to really experience life in this country.

"They had breakfast with us and evening meals, and they were absolutely delightful children, so polite and sociable."

She added: "It was lovely for the English children too as they really got to know them well. A few e-mail addresses were exchanged."

The children and their teachers returned to China after six activity-packed days.

A DARING trio have put their life savings into a new mobile vet service.

Matt and Vicki Sanford, along with their business partner Kate Grayer, have kitted out a six-metre long van as a mobile veterinary centre, equipped for blood tests, treatment and some surgery.

Under the banner of Hillside Mobile Vets, vet Mr Sanford and nurse Ms Grayer will take treatment to ill pets within a ten-mile radius of Redhill, where the Sanfords live.

Mrs Sanford, who is the business manager, said: "Cats can't bear going to the vets, some dogs also can't stand it and will cower in the corner.

"The stress for animals and owners can be huge but with this there is no sitting in the waiting room."

The van's wheels hit the road on Monday last week and the pair have been operating out of a car since the middle of last month.

But since the plan was first hatched ten months ago, it has been a huge undertaking for the trio.

Mr and Mrs Sanford have juggled launching the business with bringing up their three children, aged three, eight and nine, as well as Mrs Sanford working four days a week as an accountant and business manager.

"We have all put everything we have into this," she told the Mirror.

"We have risked everything. So we really want this to be a success."

Though they have an arrangement with a veterinary surgery in Reigate for cases requiring an overnight stay, the Hillside Vets van is kitted out for most eventualities.

"The van is pretty impressive. You wouldn't believe how big it is inside. We have an onboard lab and a fridge to store blood samples," Mrs Sanford said.

"We can do tests there and then."

Now they are on the road, Mr Sanford and Ms Grayer visit their clients at set appointments and see all animals except horses, which they leave to equine specialists.

"Matt visited a client on their lunch break today," Mrs Sanford said.

"The feedback is amazing, people love it."

For information visit www.hill sidemobilevets.co.uk

REDHILL'S Army reservists will be leaving the town and relocating to Croydon.

The move – part of a major Government overhaul of Britain's Territorial Army units – will involve the 150 Recovery Company leaving their TA centre in Linkfield House, Batts Hill within the next three years.

The decision was announced in a Commons statement by Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond last week. In total, 26 reservist bases across the country will be moved or closed, taking the number from 334 to 308.

The move has angered Reigate MP Crispin Blunt, who fears for the future of the town's Cadets who also operate from the local base.

Speaking in the Commons last week, he said: "May I gently register my concern about the fate of the Cadet forces associated with the TA Centre in Redhill that he is proposing to close?"

After the debate Mr Blunt added: "I understand the military aspects of the decision, but it is a very great shame that 150 Recovery Company is to relocate to Croydon. They have been outstanding representatives for the Armed Forces in our borough, and will be sorely missed.

"I also want to know that the Army Cadet unit and Air Cadet 135 Squadron based at Batts Hill can continue to use their facilities, or have better provision made for them if the decision is taken in the future to vacate the site altogether."

The government claims the relocation of the Redhill reserve unit, and others in the country, will lead to £1.8 billion being invested over the next ten years, and a bigger role for reservists.

Responding to Mr Blunt, the Defence Secretary said: "Cadets are co-located on many reserve sites.

"The fact that we are vacating a site does not mean that the building will be shut or the site disposed of.

"Where cadets are in occupation, they will continue to occupy and we will seek appropriate ways of re-providing for cadets in the same area. That may be on the same site or on one in the near vicinity."

A spokesman for the Surrey Army Cadets said the future of the detachment will be secure no matter what happens.

He said: "It's not going to be for a while and all being well we'll still be able to use our local centre in Redhill. If not we'll acquire another location."

A spokesman for the MOD said the changes were part of a process to integrate the reserve and regular Army into a single force, adding: "150 Recovery Company, part of 103 Battalion Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, is one such unit. Although there will be no structural changes to the Company, it will relocate to Croydon, leaving its current premises in Redhill."

HALF of the shops are now boarded up along Cromwell Road in Redhill, labelled an 'eyesore'.

Borough councillor Natalie Bramhall, who is also in charge of regeneration, says she is "embarrassed" to have it in her ward.

Half of the parade opposite the Belfry Shopping Centre, with flats and offices above, is owned by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, with the rest privately-owned. It was due to be bulldozed along with two blocks of flats and the Salvation Army Hall, to make may for an Asda store.

But the Mirror revealed last month the plan is in jeopardy. Asda submitted a planning application in 2011, but talks between store bosses and the council broke down months ago.

Philip Wheeler, 76, lived in Cromwell Road as a child when the street had a delicatessen, a baker's, a bike shop, a restaurant and two barber shops among its businesses.

"It is an eyesore now," he said. "It used to be a thriving parade. Now it's a bit of a dump."

Mrs Bramhall blamed Asda for the impasse. She said: "I feel they have treated us as a council incredibly badly."

She said store bosses had refused to contribute to a "balanced network" scheme to revert the town's one-way system back to two-way.

"Everybody else who has plans in or plans approved is contributing to the balanced network where it affects them," she added. "Why should it be different for Asda?

"I feel they have left the council and the residents in limbo for way too long. It is embarrassing for me as a Redhill West councillor that the bit that the council owns is in my ward. I have said we need to pin Asda down and get them to either say 'yes, we are running with it' or 'no'. If it is no, I have told the officers to give me a plan B for the site that we own."

Ahmad Faisal has owned a mini mart on Cromwell Road since 2007. He said: "All the shops down here were occupied when I came here. But now there is so much uncertainty. There is no information about what is happening. I speak to my landlord and he says Asda haven't got in touch at all, but last time I spoke to someone from Asda a few months ago, he said it is all going to happen."

Residents in the flats which were due to be pulled down are also concerned.

One mum who didn't want to be named, said: "We haven't heard anything. At the moment we are just living in limbo."

Asda have not returned the Mirror's calls.

A FREE open-air music concert returns to Nork this weekend.

Banstead West Music in The Park returns for its 17th year on Sunday.

Elvis Presley, as performed by Ben Thomson, will once again be among artists on the bill at Nork Park in Nork Way.

Also performing is Sarah Pullen with songs from shows, Colin Roy and Friends, the 7T disco band and the RBC Gospel Choir.

Organisers are hoping for a bumper year after poor weather for the past two years hit attendance and profits.

The afternoon kicks off at 12.30pm when the Redhill Corps of Drums will march from Eastgate to the park.

The entertainment runs until 5.30pm and also includes a fundraising raffle, refreshments including a hog roast, tea tent, ice creams, beer and wine, and face painting, a puppet show and a bouncy castle for the children.

Profits on the day are ploughed into putting on the free event again next year.

DAN DOUTHWAITE bagged his first senior five-wicket haul as Stoke D'Abernon made short work of beating Godalming on Saturday.

Having won the toss, Stoke decided to bowl first and they made a good start, as Douthwaite (5-13) took his first wicket early on before going on to claim three more as Godalming were reduced to 36-6.

Matt Gottschalk (2-1), Jonathan Fowler (2-10) and Alex Bond (1-10) also weighed in with wickets as Godalming were dismissed for 58 in 24.5 overs, before Adrian Taylor and skipper Will Gudgeon each hit 22 as Stoke reached 60-3 in 14.4 overs.

Stoke's seconds recorded another 100-over format win by three wickets at Horsley and Send II to stay second. Stoke bowled first and from 171-5, Nico Spreeth (4-16) engineered a tail-end collapse with the last five wickets falling for 30, Harkett also taking 3-59.

Stoke made steady progress, with Nick Lo scoring 61, but suddenly it was 193-7 with three overs remaining. Watson and Page tied the scores with six balls remaining before a scrambled single off the first ball of the final over secured 13 points for Stoke.

In a Saturday friendly, Stoke D'Abernon III (152ao) lost to Wonersh (217-9) by 65 runs.

On Sunday, Stoke D'Abernon (194-6) beat The Vultures (193-90) by four wickets, Alex Bond 3-20.

In the Surrey Trust League, Stoke's academy side (153ao) lost to Worcester Park (156-6) by four wickets.

James Trower (39) got the board moving, but only captain Keith Medlycott (47) stayed with him. Michael Doman (17) clubbed the only other double-figure score as Stoke were shot out for 153 in 39 overs.

In reply, Will Frost's eight-over spell yielded just 10 runs and Baz Medlycott took a career-best 4-14 from eight overs, but the hosts completed the win with 13 balls to spare.

A ROYAL British Legion club has been forced to close after 79 years because it was unable to attract new members.

Dwindling use of the Leatherhead and Fetcham branch's club in Upper Fairfield Road had left it in a vulnerable position at the start of this year.

Those in charge then urged their 150 existing members to use the club or lose it, as well as trying to attract new ones, but their efforts were not enough to prevent the club's closure.

Branch secretary Jane Summerfield said: "We did everything we could to keep it going but the club is a business, not a charity, and the members were not supporting it enough for it to continue. We had to close it or the branch was going to be in debt.

"It's a combination of many things. I think people are just staying in more these days, but it's a shame because it's killing off the idea of the community getting together."

Mrs Summerfield said the Leatherhead and Fetcham branch would continue to use the venue for meetings until Remembrance Day in November, but that the long-term future of the branch was uncertain.

She will also continue to run the Poppy Appeal for the area with her husband, Derrick – who is the Royal British Legion's county vice chairman – from home.

Mary Marshall, 71, told the Advertiser she had been attending the club for the last seven years.

"Mrs Summerfield put in so much time. I do not think she could have done anything more," she said.

"The committee all worked hard to keep it going but people didn't use it enough. I think it's going on all over the country. People just don't use the clubs any more.

"It's such a lovely club but I think it's just a different way of life now.

"As older members are passing away there are no new young people joining. I think people just buy a bottle of wine and sit in now.

"I had some great times there. For an older person like me in my 70s, I just used to feel more comfortable than going to a pub."

Canon Peter Bruinvels, who was county field officer for the British Legion for just under 11 years, said: "I think it is a very sad loss because it was a huge part of the community and it used to be very well-used.

"It was a great meeting place for veterans but times are hard and I think a lot of clubs are finding it difficult with the rising costs of running these places.

"So I think it was probably inevitable but it's very sad, particularly for that club because there is a strong history there."

The women's section of the branch will continue to meet at the North Leatherhead Community Association's centre in Kingston Road.