Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted and had a mobile phone stolen during a street robbery in Lancaster earlier this month.

The incident took place around 8.00pm on 10th April 2012 when a 20-year-old victim  was walking along Willow Lane on the Marsh Estate with two female friends when they were approached by a group of young men.

Three of the boys grabbed the victim’s black LG mobile phone before assaulting him, knocking him to the ground and kicking and punching him to the head and body. Fortunately a member of the public intervened and the offenders ran off.

The victim suffered swelling and bruising to his body and a laceration to the top of his head requiring hospital treatment.

DC Ian Wright from Lancaster CID said: “I would appeal to anybody that witnessed this offence of with any information that could assist with our investigation to contact Lancashire Police on 101.”

A 16 year old boy from Lancaster has been arrested in connection with the offence and is currently on police bail.