A NEW Forest man was beaten unconscious in a double attack just hours after playing in a charity football match.

The 37-year-old was targeted by a gang of up to five teenagers using a golf club in an unprovoked assault.

He was then assaulted a second time, and left unconscious after returning to the scene in New Milton town

centre to retrieve his wallet.

The victim, who is too terrified to be named, made a 999 call before collapsing on the pavement.

Paramedics arrived and rushed him to hospital with a suspected fractured skull.

The man, a cavity wall engineer, had gone to TJ's, a snooker club, for a presentation after the fundraising match in aid of the Brockenhurst Gateway Club for people with mental health problems.

He said: "I left with a couple of friends from TJ's and trekked off towards Barclays Bank. Then I was struck over the head with what I thought was a golf club."

His friends were walking slightly behind their companion and witnessed the youths hit him over the head and run off.

When they caught up with him he said he did not want medical help. The group walked home and parted company just before the victim reached his house.

He said: "As I was getting home after leaving my friends I realised I had lost my wallet and went back where I was attacked again. That was when I called the police and that's the last thing I remember."

He was rushed to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and was then transferred to Poole Hospital where it emerged his skull had not been

fractured but severely bruised.

He said: "I've got a black and blue face and arms and legs and everything. I moved down from Newcastle two years ago to make a new start. You wouldn't see something like this there.

"I'm scared to leave the house. I'm a big lad but this is something I don't ever want to happen again."

Sgt Glyn White, of Hampshire police, said: "The victim was concussed and suffered severe bruising. He was knocked unconscious and fell on his face, which caused injuries to his nose and mouth."

He added it could not be assumed it was the same gang who attacked the man in the second assault.

They were aged between 14 to 18 and wore hooded-top sweatshirts and baseball caps.

Anyone with information about either of the attacks is asked to contact Det Con Steve Houston at New Milton CID on 0845 045 4545.