A student with learning difficulties was left with a broken jaw and fractured eye socket after he was attacked in a park.
Police are appealing for witnesses after the victim, who is in his 20s, was assaulted by two teenage boys in Northwood Park in Wolverhampton as he made his way home from college
They repeatedly punched and kicked him before setting fire to the man's bag, destroying all his college coursework.
The pair are described as white and in their late teens. One of them was around 6ft tall, with a tanned complexion and of a stocky build. He had black hair, which was closely shaved, and he was wearing a black Adidas jacket.
The other boy is described as being slightly shorter, of a medium build with short, blond hair. He was wearing a blue jacket and jogging bottoms.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries into the assault, which took place around 5.15pm on June 5.
Pc Chris Gallon, from West Midlands Police, said: "This was a really nasty attack on a vulnerable young man, which left him needing metal wire inserted into his jaw and surgery to repair his eye socket.
"What's particularly cruel about this crime is that after the assault, the offenders burnt the victim's bag, totally destroying all of his college work.
"We are doing all we can to find those responsible for this callous assault and one person has already been arrested in connection with the offence.
"However, we're still keen to hear from anyone who was in the park at the time or recognises the offenders from the descriptions given and would urge them to call us."
Anyone with information should contact West Midlands Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.