AN INTERNET romance turned to horror when a couple who met on the WorldWide Web were set upon in a Southampton shopping precinct as they enjoyed a takeaway meal.

American teenager Maya Gruner, who came to Britain two weeks ago to meet her new Southampton boyfriend Darren McKee for the first time, watched screaming as a teenage gang kicked him unconscious in an unprovoked attack.

Darren, 21, was left in a pool of blood after the booze-fuelled gang beat him senseless at the busy Bitterne shopping precinct - all because he refused to hand over some Kentucky Fried Chicken to the strangers.

Maya, 18, from Rochester, New Hampshire, said: "We just went to get something to eat. We were planning to go out clubbing and went to the precinct to catch a bus from there. "We were sitting on a bench eating the chicken when I saw these six guys crossing the street. I said to myself 'Oh Jeez' because they looked like trouble.

"Then one of them stopped in his tracks and started talking to Darren, asking him for his food. He was obviously intoxicated and Darren told him to go away.

"The guy then went back with the rest of the group. They didn't say anything after that, they just threw Darren to the ground and started kicking him in the head and face. I think he was uncon-scious for at least a minute, but it could have been longer.

"Even after he was unconscious they were still kicking him. I was just screaming at them. I feel bad because there was nothing else I could do, I was so much in shock.

"I have never witnessed anything like this. We were just sitting there minding our own business. It was completely unexpected."

The attack finally ended only when horrified onlookers shouted at the group to stop. Darren, who recently gave up his job as an administrator at the Chandler's Ford headquarters of B&Q, was treated for a number of facial cuts and bruises at Southampton General Hospital and was later discharged.

Back at his Harefield home he said: "I don't remember too much of what actually happened. I blacked out after falling to the floor. "I know Maya was pretty terrified," he added. But the couple, who met around three months ago, said they were continuing their plans to visit Maya's home later this month.

"We have the tickets. I'm waiting to see whether the doctors will let me travel with the head injuries," said Darren.

Police investigating the incident believe there are numerous witnesses to the attack who have not yet come forward.

Pc Mark Good of Bitterne CID said: "It was a warm evening and there were a lot of people in the precinct at the time of this vicious and unprovoked assault.

"There must be people out there who know who did this."

Anyone with any information is urged to call Bitterne CID on 01703 335444 or the confidential Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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