text: Gareth Blanks was attacked as he walked back from the shops near his home in Truro, Cornwall, because he has autism and looks vulnerable . A community is rallying around a defenceless man who was viciously beaten in a sustained and sickening attack by a gang of thugs - because he's autistic. More than 1,500 people have come out in support of Gareth Blanks after the attack that saw him kicked and punched more than 20 times. Mr Blanks, 31, was walking home after buying a chocolate bar when he was approached by a group of three men and one woman at around 8.30pm on April 17. He was taunted by the group before snatching the hat from his head. When he tried to retrieve the garment,  he was pushed to the ground, and one of the males punched and kicked him 20 times in the head and across his body. Mr Blanks is now recovering at his home in Truro, Cornwall, but his family say it will take him a long time to recover, and he has been left with deep mental scars. An online support group called Support Gareth, which has already attracted over 1,500 likes on Facebook with several leaving messages of support. His mother, Sandra, 54, who works as a dinner lady  said: 'He's still very distraught, he's shook up and it's going to take him some time before he can go out on his own again. 'They clearly targeted because of his condition. He does look vulnerable and walks around in his own little world. They didn't take anything about from his hat so their intention was clearly just to take the mickey out of him. 'When he came in, he was crying and really upset. 'As a mum, it was horrific to see. I am now just spending all my time trying to get my son sorted out. 'All the support he has got has been a tremendous help and we are so grateful. 'But this will take him a long time to get over. The physical scars will heal a lot quicker than the mental ones.' Mrs Blanks, who has five children Kelly, 33, Samantha, 27, Lyndsey, 29, and Roy, 34, added: 'I really think need the people responsible need help themselves. There is a lot I would like to say about them - but I can't. 'I don't think they would have liked to have got the beating they gave to my son.' Police are investigating the crime by pouring over CCTV footage, and are confident they will catch The attackers. Mr Blanks, pictured, here with his sisters Kelly, left, and Lindsey, and mother Sandra, right, was 'hysterical' when he returned to his home in Truro in Cornwall following the attack on April 17 at 8.30pm . His sister Kelly Blanks said: 'When he came home he was in a hysterical state and you couldn't get any sense out of him.' Investigation office PC Kim James, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: 'It was a vicious and unprovoked attack by a female and three males in their late teens or early 20s.' Sergeant Marc Sayers, from Truro police, said: 'This is clearly a cowardly attack on a vulnerably young man going about his normal business. It was almost pack activity. 'We take all attacks extremely seriously but this is exceptional, it was completely unwarranted and unprovoked. 'It also appears to have been quite a sustained attack on a male who was quite defenceless.' Three men and a woman attacked Mr Blanks as he returned from the shop after buying a bar of chocolate .
target: Gareth Blanks was beaten as he walked home from the shops in Truro .
  The 31-year-old has autism and police confirmed that he is vulnerable .
  Three men and a woman began punching and kicking him for no reason .
  Police believe that the four attackers are all in their late teens or early 20s .