A FUND is being set up so people can donate money to a Japanese student who was left for dead in an attack in Oxford.

Kentaro Ikeda, 27, is still slowly recovering from his horrific injuries.

In her first act as Oxford’s new Lord Mayor, Mary Clarkson is setting up a fund.

Mrs Clarkson was deeply shocked by the attack on thecycle track in Mesopotamia Walk last July, and believes the city should do everything it can to help Mr Ikeda because it “owes him a debt”.

Mr Ikeda, who was studying at Oxford University’s St Edmund Hall, suffered a fractured skull and remained in a critical condition for weeks after he was set upon by teenagers Thomas Mack and Craig Knowles. He is now back in Tokyo and Mrs Clarkson said she wanted to raise “thousands of pounds” for him.

The mother-of-four said: “Kentaro was brutally attacked by some drunken youths as he cycled home one night.

“He was so seriously injured he may never be able to live independently again.

“Much of his family’s savings had been spent on his education in Oxford and now his mother has had to give up her teaching job to care for him. I would like to give support to Kentaro and his family on behalf of the whole city to show we are appalled by what has happened to him and to do what we can to help his family in the future.

“I think Oxford owes him a debt.”

Mrs Clarkson said she understood Mr Ikeda was still receiving round-the-clock care at a rehabilitation centre near Tokyo.

She said: “He’s making progress, but it’s very slow. It’s just so shocking – we want to raise as much money as possible.”

The Lord Mayor, who is discussing with city council lawyers the best way to enable people to make donations, added: “We want to set up the fund properly and distribute the money directly to Kentaro and his family.”

Mack and Knowles dragged the student off his bicycle before hitting him over the head with his bike lock.

Mack bragged about the attack in a series of text messages to friends as Mr Ikeda lay fighting for his life.

The pair, both 18, stole his laptop, rucksack and bike.

Mack, of Nicholas Avenue, Marston, Oxford, was jailed for seven years after being convicted of causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and robbery.

Knowles, of Oxford Road, Old Marston, Oxford, was jailed for nine years after admitting causing actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm with intent and robbery.

Judge Terence Maher summed up: “This man’s life has effectively been stolen from him.”

After the student’s attackers were jailed, Det Ch Insp George Bain said: “Mr Ikeda came to Oxford to take advantage of the best this city can offer but ended up coming face-to-face with its worst.”

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk