RESIDENTS told how they heard a chilling scream, minutes before discovering a badly injured assault victim in their back yard.

Detectives were last night investigating the circumstances, but it is thought the well-built man had been driven to the secluded location, where his attackers were waiting for him.

After being given a "severe beating", he was found shortly after 11pm on Monday behind a row of terraced houses in Stamford Street, off Bowling Back Lane, East Bowling, and was last night in a stable condition in hospital with head and facial injuries.

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One neighbour told how she was relaxing at home when she heard a "ghoulish scream" from outside.

She said: "It was long and drawn out. It wasn't very nice."

The resident, who did not want to be named, said she was concerned someone might be tampering with her car and went outside soon after.

"I heard a rasping sound, of someone breathing heavily, coming from the back yard at the end of the passage between the houses.

"I called my neighbours and we went down to the back and found him. He was a big man and he was laid behind the gate to the yard.

"At first we couldn't get in. I thought he was asleep but then he moved and we were able to get at him.

"He was in a right state. It was obvious he had been assaulted. His head was covered in blood. He was bloodied, bruised and battered.

"He suddenly sat up. He was saying something but I couldn't understand what he was saying. Then he flaked out. He kept sitting up and flaking out. We did our best to keep him comfortable and called 999 and an ambulance and police were soon on the scene.

"We had never seen him before. It looked as though he had been brought there and dumped.

"It's a secluded area and we are always being plagued by people coming from out of the area and causing trouble. There are a lot of families here and we are sick of it and wish they would stay away and leave us in peace. We don't deserve to have to put up with this sort of thing."

Yesterday a large uniformed police presence remained on the street, which is isolated in a mainly industrial area.

White-suited forensic experts could be seen examining the passage, while a blue and white forensic test had been erected in the back yard where the grim discovery was made.

The investigation into the assault is being led by Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team.

A spokesman said: "Police were called to Stamford Street in Bradford at about 11.12pm on Monday, after receiving reports of a disturbance.

"Officers and ambulance crews attended and found a 26-year-old man behind a property with head and facial injuries.

"He was taken to hospital where his condition is currently described as poorly, although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Det Supt Atkinson said it was clearly a targeted attack and the victim would know his attackers, but the motive was not yet clear.

He said the victim had been driven to the scene, where his attackers were waiting for him, but he had not been kidnapped.

The man, who is from Bradford, suffered several broken bones in the incident.

Det Supt Atkinson said: "He is in Leeds General Infirmary and we are attempting to speak with him. He has had a severe beating and I want to make sure we maximise his safety.

"He was attacked at the scene and a number of people were involved. We have not established whether a weapon was used."

"Inquiries are continuing into this incident and anyone with information is asked to contact Bradford District CID on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."