A BASINGSTOKE teenager is lucky to be alive after he fell victim to a savage attack by a gang of young thugs.

The young man, who has not been named, was repeatedly hit over the head with a fence post and sustained serious injuries, including black eyes, and a damaged jaw, arms and back.

His shocked mother is now appealing for people to help the hunt for the 15-strong gang who attacked her son and his girlfriend in what police describe as a motiveless assault.

She told The Basingstoke Extra: "I didn't recognise him when I got to casualty. He didn't look like my son - he was so badly beaten.

"They didn't even steal anything from him. They just did it for kicks."

The brutal attack happened at 1.30am on Saturday as the teenager and his girlfriend, both aged 19, walked down an alleyway between Kings Road and Princes Crescent, South Ham. The group, who were approaching from the opposite direction, offered them drugs.

Detective Constable Darren Barrett, of Basingstoke CID, said: "The lad didn't want to know and he put his head down.

"The next thing he knew, he was pole-axed over a hedge into a garden, and attacked by five or six people, who were punching, kicking and stamping on him."

The teenager managed to escape to Western Way, but then he turned around and saw his girlfriend was still in the alley, being kicked in the body and face. As he went to her aid, he was knocked unconscious by thugs hitting him over the head with a fence post.

They continued beating him until they were scared off by a woman, who came out of a nearby house with some towels to look after him.

Both he and his girlfriend were rushed to Basingstoke hospital, where the teenager was kept overnight and his girlfriend was treated for minor injuries to the face and body.

Both are suffering from shock, and the teenager, who is studying to be a motor technician, has had to postpone the end of his course.

Detective Inspector Jerry Brierley, of Basingstoke CID, said: "This is one of the most scathing assaults that we have been made aware of for quite some time. This young man is lucky to be alive."

A number of young people are assisting the police with their enquiries about the incident.

Anyone with information should contact Basingstoke police on 0845 045 4545, or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.