A TEENAGER was badly beaten after a vicious, unprovoked attack by a gang.

Robert Chapman was "left for dead'' after three men stamped on his head and rained down kicks and punches on his face.

Police were last night hunting the gang who carried out the sustained attack on the 16-year-old - even after he had handed over his mobile telephone.

Doctors will not be able to determine the full extent of the teenager's injuries until next week, when his head and face are less swollen.

They have already told the youngster he has bruising behind his brain and a suspected broken cheek and nose.

His attackers shouted, "let's kill him". They targeted the youngster as he walked home in the dark, after seeing his girlfriend home.

His sister, Marie Chapman, 27, said last night: "They left him for dead. I don't know how he managed to get home. He is very lucky to be here.

"What I can't understand is, he handed over his mobile telephone, but they still came on at him. He does not go out and causes fights. Now he is frightened to go out.'' Robert was approached by two men riding bikes as he walked home along the Trunk Road, near the Skippers Lane industrial estate, on the edge of Middlesbrough at 10.15pm on Saturday.

Robert said: "They said give me your phone.' I gave them it, I did not want a fight with them.'' They then rode off, but he then heard them come back after him and they shouted: "let's kill him."

Robert said: "They came back, caught me and punched me and I went down on to the ground.'' They dragged him on to some waste ground and began punching, kicking and stamping on his head.

At one point they sat him up while they aimed blows and kicks to his head.

He appealed to a passer-by for help, but instead of coming to his aid, the man also joined in the attack.

"I don't understand,'' said Robert. "I gave them the phone so they would not hit me, but they came back and hit me.'' Detective Sergeant Paul Husband said of Robert's injuries: "They are amongst the worst I have ever seen and I appeal directly to anyone with any knowledge of the perpetrators of this attack to contact me."

Two of the attackers were described as white. One is in his early 20s, the other in his late teens.

There was no description of the third attacker.