A VICIOUS day time attack left a student bloodied and bruised after refusing to give an older man a cigarette on Saturday.

John-Paul Hodgson was head-butted and punched after being targeted in Clark’s Yard, Darlington town centre on Saturday afternoon.

At around 4.30pm, the “quiet and shy” 18-year-old was with his girlfriend and two others when they were approached by a group of five people, mostly youngsters, who repeatedly demanded cigarettes from them.

After the teenager and his friends refused their demands, a man who appeared to be in his late 20s targeted Mr Hodgson’s girlfriend, saying he would take her cigarettes from her.

He then head-butted Mr Hodgson and punched him, smashing his head off a wall and causing injuries to his face and hands as well as a suspected broken nose.

Mr Hodgson said: “When he approached my girlfriend, I was trying to be polite with him but firm and then he head-butted me before hitting my head off a wall.

“His mates dragged him off me and said I was just a kid then as he walked away, he shouted his name and said he didn’t give a f***.

“It has really affected me, I wouldn’t have expected this from someone his age and it’s out of order.

“I think he’s a bully hanging around with people younger than him so he can act like an alpha male.

“He has no shame, I don’t even look 18 and it’s left me and my girlfriend wary of going anywhere.”

Mr Hodgson’s mother, Debbie, added: “He could have killed him and now I don’t want him going anywhere.

“It’s been upsetting for us all and I’ve heard this man has children of his own.

“How would he feel if someone bigger than them did something like this to his kids?”

Mr Hodgson has reported the matter to Durham Constabulary, who are investigating.

It is not known whether or not the incident is linked to another recent case, in which a Darlington pensioner was also attacked for refusing to give cigarettes to a gang of youths.

That attack, which left the 66-year-old with a head injury, took place on Neasham Road on Monday, January 9.

Anyone with information on either incident should call Darlington Police on non-emergency number 101.