A man was found on the side of the road with head injuries and a broken leg, after apparently being assaulted in a vehicle by four men before being dumped.

Cleveland Police have appealed for witnesses following the incident near Stillington, in the Stockton area, in the early hours this morning (Sunday, July 9).

A spokesperson for the force said: "Officers are appealing for witnesses after a man was found with injuries in a road after being reportedly assaulted.

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"The 23-year-old man was found in the road around 12:20am this morning, Sunday 9th July, on Thorpe Leazes Lane between Stillington and the A177.

"He had suffered injuries to his head and legs which resulted in a broken leg. The man remains in hospital receiving treatment.

"The man reported that he was dumped at the side of the road after being in a car with four males where he was assaulted."

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: "We received a call at 00:25 this morning to concerns for a person on Thorpe Leazes Lane in Stockton. We sent an emergency ambulance crew and took a male in his 20s  to North Tees Hospital with a leg injury."

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Detectives would now like to appeal to any road users that were in the area around the time or anyone who may have dash cam footage that may show other vehicles on the road around the time of the incident.

Anyone who may have information regarding the incident or anyone with dash cam footage which could assist is asked to contact Stockton CID on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 134531.

Independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.

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