Man punched in the face in attempted mugging

A MAN was punched in the face in an attempted street robbery in New Milton in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The attack took place around 1.45am when an unknown man came out of the treeline and approached the 23-year-old victim as he walked along Fernhill Lane, near Ballard Lake.

He asked him to hand over his wallet and phone, and punched him in the face when he refused to do so before running off empty-handed back towards the trees.

His victim was left with a bloodied nose.

The offender was described as white, in his late 20s, around 5ft 9ins tall, with ginger/copper-coloured stubble.

He was wearing a black Puffa jacket with a fur-lined hood, and blue trainers with a New Balance logo.

Police probing the attack are urging people to come forward if they were in the area around the time it took place, remember seeing any suspicious activity, or saw a man matching the description given.

A 20-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and later released under investigation.

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 44190118738, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.