A TEENAGE boy has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm after a man suffered life-changing injuries to his eye in an alleged attack.

The complainant, a man in his 30s from Finchley in London, was walking through the Lower Gardens close to Exeter Road at around 3am on Sunday, September 25 with three other men when the alleged incident took place.

Police say the men were approached by a group of teenagers.

One of the teenage boys then allegedly struck the complainant with a metal belt which was wrapped around his wrist.

The man suffered a serious injury to his right eye.

The matter was reported to police on Friday, September 30.

A 16-year-old boy from Christchurch, who cannot be named, will appear before Bournemouth Youth Court in Stafford Road on Tuesday, January 24.