A good samaritan from Snodland says he was assaulted by the owner of a missing dog while he was trying to hand it over to him.

James Dunn, of May Street, said he was thumped in the back of the head.

He fell to the floor and was kicked again. He claims he was accused of being a thief.

The incident, on Monday morning, left the 30-year-old with a cut beneath his right eye.

He gave a statement at Tonbridge police station later that day.

A 21-year-old man was arrested and released without charge on the same day.

Mr Dunn said: “As I walked back down my road a fellow thumped me in the back of the head and kicked me several times on the floor. I was trying to do the right thing and ended up with a cut beneath my eye.

“I went to Tonbridge to make a statement but in the evening I got a message saying there wasn’t enough evidence so they let the chap go.”

Mr Dunn found the dog running freely down his street while washing his girlfriend’s car at 8.30am.

He noticed the animal was alone and found no collar around its neck, so he tried to hunt down its owner.

After having no luck he took it to the RSPCA centre on Castle Way, Leybourne, but was told he had to inform the dog warden.

While waiting he decided to try again to find out who the dog belonged to, and left the centre to return back to his street.

He encountered a man who accused him of trying to steal the dog and the violence erupted.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.