POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a robbery in which a 17-year-old from Chester had his iPod stolen after being punched and kicked.

The victim was walking near the Co-op in Walker Street, Hoole, on his way home, when the incident happened about 5.30pm on Monday November 1.

He was approached by a man who asked him for a cigarette. After providing one, the male punched him to the head and the victim fell to the ground after being punched a second time.

The offender stole an iPod and a packet of cigarettes and kicked the teenager as he lay on the floor before running off.

Two members of the public came to the victim’s assistance and alerted police. The teenager, who needed hospital treatment, suffered bruising and swelling.

The attacker is described as a white male, in his early twenties, and around 5ft 10in tall. He had short dark hair and wore a black waist-length coat with a hood – which was down – and black tracksuit bottoms.

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone who may have been approached in similar circumstances.

Contact DC Gavin Hastings at Chester CID on 0845 458 000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.