A MOTHER last night spoke of her horror after discovering her son had been robbed as he lay unconscious after being attacked by a gang of five youths.

Matthew Clark, 16, was making his way home along a cyclepath, in the Oxbridge area of Stockton, with a friend when he was approached from behind by the gang.

One of the group punched him in the head, which knocked him unconscious and when he fell to the ground they stamped on his head before taking his mobile phone and a £20 note.

Matthew needed hospital treatment for his injuries which also included several loose teeth.

Last night his mother, Lisa Price, said: "It is despicable. It was totally unprovoked and this gang came from behind him, knocked him to the floor and stole his money and phone.

"I am hoping somebody will come forward and give whatever information they have to the police.

"It has left Matthew very traumatised and he dare not go out. He begins his exams next week and we are worried about what effect it will have on him.

"There was no need for them to do anything like this. Just for a couple of minutes they may have ruined his chances of getting good results."

No descriptions are available of the gang or the youth who carried out the attack on Friday night at about 9.30pm.

Police are linking the incident to another attack which took place in nearby Ropner Park about the same time in which a 15-year-old boy was also attacked by a gang of five youths.

He suffered severe bruising and it was thought a broken nose, although fortunately this was not the case.

Officers want to speak to a 16-year-old in connection with this assault. He was wearing a white jacket with the word Echo on the front and number 73 on the back.

Anyone with any information on either assault is asked to contact Stockton police on (01642) 326326 or crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.