A TEENAGE boy was pushed to the ground and robbed of his mobile phone and bag in West Howe.

Detectives are now appealing for witnesses to the attack, which happened after the 15-year-old boy got off a bus.

It happened along Verney Road at around 7.10pm on Monday, police said yesterday.

The victim, who is from Bournemouth, was left with cuts and bruises and his phone and white-checked rucksack were taken.

DC Mark Portelli, of Bournemouth CID, said: “I understand that the victim had been travelling on the 5a Yellow Bus service from 6.40pm onwards, after he boarded the bus on Gervis Road.

“This bus travelled through Charminster, where the offender boarded the bus at around 6.50pm.

“Both the victim and this man sat on the top deck of the bus, around three rows apart.

“The victim and the offender alighted from the bus on Fernside Road in West Howe – a short time later the robbery took place.”

Police said the robber was white, aged between 16 and 24, 5ft 11ins tall, clean shaven and with a pale complexion. He was wearing a black zip-up hooded top and blue jeans.

While he was on the bus it is believed that he poured a liquid of some description onto the floor.

DC Portelli added: “I am appealing for anyone who witnessed this robbery, and anyone who saw a man matching this description on the bus, to contact me as soon as possible.

“All calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”

Anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 2:288.

Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

Retired man is attacked by youths on Christmas Day

A “nasty” unprovoked attack on a retired man on Christmas Day left him with unwelcome gifts of a cut and bruising.

Police in Poole are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward after the assault in Rossmore by a group of four teenage boys.

The incident took place near the normally busy junction of Herbert Avenue and Alder Road around 5.30pm on Sunday, December 25.

The victim, a 64-year-old Christchurch man, sustained a cut to his face and bruising to his back.

PC Paul Mellor of Poole police said: “I understand that the victim was walking along Herbert Avenue near to the junction with Alder Road when a verbal altercation took place between him and a group of four teenage boys.

“The victim was pushed to the ground and assaulted.

“This was a nasty and apparently unprovoked attack on a retired man.

“I’m led to believe that there were a number of vehicles on the road at the time of the incident, therefore somebody may have seen the incident and may be able to assist me in my enquiries.”

Witnesses and anyone with information are urged to call Dorset Police in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 25:263.