ALEX Bicknell only has to look down at his hands and memories of his 18th birthday come flooding back.
But the events of his special day are not ones he wants to relive.
Kidnapped and beaten by former classmates, Alex is keen to forget the day ever happened.
But he fears the scars – mental and physical – will be there for life.
"I've not been the same since it happened," said Alex, who attended Ellis Guilford School before studying horticulture at South Notts College.
"I'm depressed and I don't like going out unless I'm with someone.
"I thought I was going to die. It is hard to get over."
Alex's ordeal began when a friend messaged, asking if they could meet at Whitemoor Pub, in Nuthall Road.
He left his family meal to go, not knowing the friend had been forced to send the message by three other boys who had punched him and threatened him with further violence.
Alex had accused one of the boys of stealing his Blackberry on Facebook a few days previously.
When Alex saw them at the pub he turned to leave but was stopped – and forced to a house in Radford Boulevard.
Once inside, the group punched Alex and he was beaten for more than two hours.
"It started with one of them punching me in the face then they all started punching and kicking me," said Alex, whose knee begins to shake as he describes the violence. "Then one of them got a hot iron on my hands and then they hit my knuckles with a wrench.
"They shoved a pool cue in my ribs and used the wrench to hit the backs of my legs.
"Afterwards I was taken to the bathroom to clean up and then they told me to go. I went to get a bus but by that time I don't think I really knew what was happening. A couple saw how badly I was injured and called an ambulance."
Alex, who had been due to start work for a gardening business after the attack, spent two nights in hospital.
His hands will take at least two years to fully heal, with the scars unlikely to disappear completely.
The attackers came from West Bridgford, Rise Park and Beeston. Two were 17, one 16. They were charged with false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. They pleaded guilty and were locked up for four years at Nottingham Crown Court.
Alex's mother, Lisa Bicknell, was in court for the sentencing. "They're not 18 so they were never going to get a lengthy sentence," she said. "They'll be out in a few years.
"It's been very stressful for Alex, he still has flashbacks and at the end of the day he's my son and I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I can see it all in my mind's eye – it's horrific."
Facebook declined to comment on Alex's ordeal. The company said content created by users does not go completely unchecked. Facebook said it strongly encourages users to ban anyone who tries to post offensive content and to use tools to report objectionable content.
