THE TEENAGER who was punched and kicked by three men in the centre of Christchurch on the Saturday before Christmas faces losing his job and home because of the attack, the Daily Echo understands.

The 19-year-old, who was reported to have been kicked and punched from behind, then kicked in the head whilst on the ground, was visiting family in the area, from Cyprus, where he lives and works.

Now, according to a family friend who asked not to be named: "He'll be off sick for some weeks and because they don't have the same sickness rules as in the UK, he'll lose his apartment and will likely have to remain here. This was not in his plan; it's all because of a vicious attack."

The man had only flown home from Cyprus less than 24 hours before the December 22 attack and had gone out to catch up with his local friends for a drink in Camerons in Bargates, according to the family friend.

She said: "There was a blow hitting his jaw, parting his face in two and there was further fracture to the jaw and cheekbones." She claimed he was unconscious for ten minutes before help arrived and spent Christmas with 'severe facial problems, unable to talk, eat, and in a lot of pain; he did not enjoy Christmas, nor did any of his family.'

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We were called at 2.14am on Saturday 22 December 2018 to a report of a disturbance at Bargates in Christchurch.

"Officers attended and a 19-year-old man was located in High Street, Christchurch with damage to his teeth and a suspected head injury so he was taken to hospital for an assessment."

Officers said they were unable say where any of the parties in the incident had been drinking or visiting.