A MAN subjected to a brutal unprovoked attack has bravely spoken out in a bid to catch his assailants.

Jonathan Jones, 50, was walking his dog Chaz just yards from his Charminster Road flat when two men jumped out of bushes, beat him up and robbed him.

Jonathan was left dazed in as his attackers fled and spent the next day being treated in hospital for extensive bruises, cuts and a broken finger.

His debit card, watch, rings, house and car keys and mobile phone were stolen, he said.

Jonathan told the Daily Echo: “I left my flat between 9.30 and 10pm to take my dog outside. Two blokes came running at me in the dark and that’s all I remember.

“It was totally out of the blue and unexpected; I didn’t have time to do anything.

“They never said anything, they just laid right into me. All I was pleased about was that they never harmed my dog.

“I think they knew what time I was coming out because I come out at the same time each night. It happened so quickly, my friend was walking off towards Charminster and he didn’t hear a thing.

“You don’t take your dog out like you do every night and meet two blokes who are going to beat you up.”

Jonathan, who has lived at the flat for a year-and-a-half, said he had been asking the council for a move for some time but had not been helped.

“The council have said if you don’t like it then you have to declare yourself homeless to move,” he said.

The council had not commented as the Echo went to press.

Seamus Doran, tenancy services manager at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: “We are aware of the issues of anti-social behaviour on this part of Charminster Road and we are working with the police to resolve these.

“Any Bournemouth resident who is unable to return to their home due to violence can present themselves as homeless to us and would be provided with help and advice.

“We have recently received new information in this case and will be considering an emergency transfer in accordance with our allocations policy.”

n steven.smith@|bournemouthecho.co.uk