A DEAF teenager was left shaken after being punched in the face in an unprovoked attack.

Richard Drysdale, 14, from Billingham, who can only communicate through sign language, was making his way home on his bike when he was stopped by a youth, who stepped out from bushes in the town's Mill Lane at about 10pm last Friday.

Richard tried to get past but the thug punched him causing him to fall to the ground, breaking his glasses.

He also suffered a bloody nose and damage to his eye.

A spokeswoman from Cleveland Police said officers were investigating.