A 28-year-old man walking home after a night out was approached by six teenagers who demanded he hand over the mobile phone he was using.

When the man refused one member of the group punched him in the side of the head, grabbed him around the neck and pulled him to the ground near the Circle C store in Heath Street, Dartford.

The victim managed to get up and ran up the road towards Highfield Road but the teenage thugs chased after him. They punched and kicked him, causing him to fall to the ground again.

The victim managed to get up and run to a friend’s home here he called the police. He suffered injuries to his face and arms.

The teenagers are all thought to be aged between 16 and 17 and one was wearing a white baseball cap. The incident occurred in Saturday, October 22, at around 10pm.

Det Con Glenn Blanchard said: “This appears to be a completely unprovoked incident and I would urge anyone who was in the area of the convenience store and who can help identify these teenagers to contact the police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Blanchard at North Kent police on 01474 565167 quoting reference 23744 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – calls to this number are free and you may be eligible for a reward.