The 26-year-old goth was left in a coma by thugs who punched and kicked him before cutting off his left ear. It was not found until 17 hours later and surgeons have stitched it inside his stomach. But it is unlikely

Quinn Colley - Rothwell thug who rapped on love of violence: Click here to watch video.

Mr Gibbs was also left with severe brain injuries after being repeatedly smashed across the head with a motorcycle helmet.

The student had to learn to walk again after the surgery. It is still unclear whether the brain injuries will affect him for the rest of his life.

Quinn Colley, 18, Ryan Woodhead, 18, and Andrew Hall, 22, were locked up indefinitely for their "evil and calculated" attack.

Despite the efforts to recover his ear, doctors believe it is unlikely that an operation to reattach it will work.

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He is under the care of specialists in Liverpool who plan to reconstruct an ear using cartilage from his ribs.

Speaking to Rothwell Today he said: "It's just a question of waiting for the operation. It is going to hurt but I want it done.

"Since the attack I have suffered mood swings since it happened. I have suffered from depression and feel more short tempered. Sometimes when I am talking I feel much more temperamental and get more wound up.

"But I'm strong minded and feel like I am making good progress."

"The doctors said I should have been in hospital for three months - until last November - but I worked hard at getting myself better and was out by September. I'm determined to keep going and am taking each day as it comes at the moment."

Mr Gibbs said despite the hefty jail terms handed to his attackers, he was also left feeling guilty over the incident after his friends were also attacked: "I feel like it was my fault for dropping my defences and going with them to try and protect my other friends from them.

"I got on the back of the motorbike with them and they were able to get me alone and attack me. I might have suffered the most damage, but then they were able to go back and a lot more people got attacked.

"I know it sounds stupid but in some ways I do feel guilty.

The attack happened in Rothwell Country Park last August as Mr Gibbs and a large group of his goth friends camped out overnight to celebrate one of their birthdays.

Colley, of Wordsworth Drive, Woodhead, of Seventh Avenue, and Hall, of Sixth Avenue, all Rothwell, referred to themselves as 'chavs'.
Before the attack, Woodhead announced to his friends: "I'm a chav and I'm going to get some moshers."

They hurled abuse at the group before then pretending to befriend them.

They were able to isolate Mr Gibbs by offering him a ride on their motorbike.

All three then went back to the group and assaulted and robbed younger members.

Recalling the events of the night, Mr Gibbs said: "I remember walking into the field and them driving past and shout "dirty moshers and goths" at us.

"They came back to the camp later and we gave them the benefit of the doubt. Things seemed fine as we had a couple of drinks with them and a barbecue. They offered me a lift to the shops. All I remember is falling off the back off the bike. The next thing I knew I was waking up in hospital."

Mr Gibbs said he had been involved in the Leeds goth scene since his early teens when he started hanging around with groups outside the Corn Exchange in Leeds.

Although he believes he was targeted by the group for being a goth, such attacks from rival gangs were rare.

"We do get fed up of being called names just because of the way we look.

"I'm sure chavs get fed up of being given that name as well. In the past I haven't seen much trouble and they will often come up and have a laugh with us when we see them in town.

"Just because we all dress different and listen to different music and act differently we are still all human beings at the end of the day."