A STUDENT was stabbed during a vicious burglary at his Colchester home.

Four men forced their way into the man's house in Quayside Drive at about 11pm on Friday, November 29.

The victim, a mature student in his 30s, was struck on the head with a baseball bat and stabbed three times in his legs with a knife.

His attackers demanded he hand over an iPhone, laptop and £600 cash.

He was taken to Colchester General Hospital.

Essex Police said he is still receiving treatment.

Investigating officer DC Tim Harris said: "This was an appalling assault and we urgently need to trace and arrest the people involved.

"The victim is a mature student at Essex University and we have been working with student welfare specialists at the university to support the victim and to warn other students against this sort of crime.”

DC Harris said four black men aged in their late teens to late 20s were involved in the burglary.

They ran off across the Hythe heading towards B&Q.

One of them was thought to be trying to conceal a laptop under his jacket.

Anyone with information contact DC Harris at Colchester CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.