A MAN was abducted and beaten after speaking to a woman in a North-East nightclub.

The 27-year-old, who has not been named, was attacked as he walked from Rio's pub in York Road, Hartlepool, towards the Siciliano's takeaway.

He was bundled into the back of a van and taken to the outskirts of Hartlepool, where he was beaten and abandoned.

He was found by ambulance staff responding to an anonymous 999 call. He was treated at hospital for cuts and bruises.

Detective Sergeant Tony Green, of Hartlepool CID, said the man may have been attacked by a jealous boyfriend, who had seen him speaking to a woman in Rio's.

He said: "There was no trouble in the pub, but while he was in Rio's the victim spoke to a female about 17 or 18-years-old.

"She had long, brown hair and was wearing a light-coloured vest top. She said she was waiting for her boyfriend who was a bouncer."

After the man left Rio's, he walked along York Road and a stranger, described as 5ft 8in, stockily built, with dark short hair and a moustache, called him across the road.

The victim was pushed into a van, which he believes had a roller shutter door.

Sgt Green wants to speak to the woman from Rio's, and anyone who saw the attack, between 8.20pm and 9.20pm, on Thursday, September 7