But his attackers will never be brought to justice after police were told there was insufficient evidence to mount a case.

The 46-year-old was set upon after confronting a group of drunken thugs chanting Pompey songs and kicking taxis outside The Ship Anson Pub at The Hard, Portsmouth.

The life-long Pompey fan, from Buckland, told the gang they were not real fans if they acted that way.

They then launched into a brutal attack leaving Mr Thripp with a dislocated ankle, broken leg and serious facial injuries.

Four people were arrested following the attack on May 4, but the Crown Prosecution Service has refused to take the case to court after vital witnesses withdrew evidence and CCTV footage was obscured by scaffolding.

Mr Thripp is angry that after a five-month police investigation his attackers will never face up to their crimes.

He said: 'Several people came forward and made statements against the same man. I know the CCTV was obscured but how much more evidence do you need? I can't believe they have got away with it.

'These people freely wander the streets while I now have a fear of going into built-up areas at night and always feel on my guard.

'If I didn't get out down to my local once in a while I wouldn't go out at all. Where is the justice?

'I might as well have just rolled over and died.'

Mr Thripp was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham and underwent surgery to place a pin in his broken leg and repair a torn ligament.

Five months later, he takes four painkillers and two epilepsy tablets every day to repair ligament damage. He can only walk for an hour at a time due to the pain and can no longer run.

Ian Harris, chief prosecutor for the CPS in Portsmouth, said: 'The two tests we apply to each case is whether it will lead to a conviction and, failing that, whether the police have any lines of inquiry that could bring us to a conviction.

'Also, we have to decide whether it will be in the public's interest to bring the case to court.

'But if there is insufficient evidence it would not be fair to put witnesses through the whole case for us not to get a conviction and waste tax payers' money.'