POLICE have appealed for information after a York man was assaulted in the city centre.

The attack happened outside the Viceroy Indian restaurant in Monkgate at just after midnight, in the early hours of Saturday, July 16.

Earlier that evening, the 24-year old victim had spoken with a number of youths who had been travelling in three cars heading towards Huntington Road along Lord Mayor’s Walk, who then got out of the vehicles and surrounded him, before one of the youths hit him.

The victim suffered bruising to his face and a cut under his left eye which required treatment at York District Hospital.

The man who committed the assault is 18 to 19 years old, white, about 5ft 10in to 5ft 11in tall with a slim build and a very pale complexion, and blond hair, which was long on top and short at the sides.

At the time of the assault he was wearing a black and white top with horizontal stripes, and dark trousers.

PC Hayley Rowbotham, of the York Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “I need to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the assault which left the victim needing treatment in hospital.

“I am especially keen to hear from members of the group, who may not have realised that the suspect intended to commit the apparently motiveless assault.”

The only description of the cars the group had been travelling in is that one was possibly a silver or blue Peugeot 206, being driven by the only woman in the group, and a blue Mazda 3. There is no description of the third car.

Anyone with information should contact PC Hayley Rowbotham at York Police Station on 0845 6060247 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.