Where are my clothes?

Paul Saunders had expected the clothes he was wearing on the night which were taken away for evidence to be returned once his attacker had been sentenced.

However, he has now been informed the clothes have been destroyed.

Paul, of Roundabout Crescent, said: "I thought they (the police) were joking at first. I laughed when they told me.

"I was told I had to fill in a form to get my clothes back, which I did, but when I went to get them, I was told they had been destroyed."

Paul, 30, was attacked as he waited in a kebab shop after a night out in Worthing in November, 2000.

The attacker, Ashley Phillips, received an 18-month suspended sentence for the crime, at Chichester Crown Court, in October last year.

Paul said: "This really is the final nail in the coffin.

"All I wanted was my clothes back or to be reimbursed, but I've been told neither of those will happen.

"The trousers were Calvin Klein and the shoes Red or Dead and they were certainly wearable again.

"They were possibly the only expensive clothes I owned they're not worth much now."

Police spokeswoman Chrissie Pitts said: "We are sorry that Mr Saunders feels aggrieved about the disposal of his clothes.

"Mr Saunders' top clothing was ruined and trousers and shoes were blood stained.

"On the conclusion of the case we wrote three letters between November 2001 and January 2002, informing him that the property was ready to collect.

"Two letters stated his property would be disposed of if not collected.

"The garments were moved from Worthing to Littlehampton to aid collection, but I'm afraid this still was not done."

Paul claims he never received the letters.