Appeal after man assaulted in Southampton park

Officers are appealing for witnesses, or anyone with information, to come forward after a man reported being assaulted in Southampton.

A verbal altercation ensued between the man – who was sat on a bench - and two young people in Mansel Park in the Millbrook area at around 9.45pm on Monday 17 July.

It comes after one the young people had ridden over the man’s foot on a bike.

One of the young people is then alleged to have threatened the man with a bladed article before leaving the area.

The two people have then returned shortly afterwards and pulled the man off the bench before reportedly assaulting him with an offensive weapon.

They have then fled the scene towards Kendal Avenue – on a footpath between All Saints Church and a block of flats.

The two young people were described as being white, aged 14/15, wearing grey and black tracksuits and balaclavas/ While it is thought that they were riding back and silver bikes.

We believe that a man walking his dog at the time of the incident may have witnessed the assault – if this is you, we would please implore you to come forward with any information you might have.

Anyone with information – whether you were in the area at the time, perhaps you witnessed the assault or maybe you have CCTV footage – is asked to call 101, quoting crime reference 44230287939.

You can also submit information via our website: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-forms/provide-more-information-to-be-added-to-a-crime-report/.

Alternatively, you can contact independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.