Four teenagers are arrested after 'nasty' attack on homeless man

FOUR teenage boys were arrested following a 'nasty' and 'unprovoked' attack on a homeless man.

Police said the 48-year-old man was hospitalised with a broken elbow, broken nose and cuts to his face following the assault in Oldham on Thursday night.

It is understood he had been sheltering in a shop doorway on Market Place, close to the Yorkshire Bank, when he was set upon by a group of youths at around 11.30pm.

After talking to the man, the group attacked him, repeatedly kicking him and punching him in the face.

Officers manning the GMP Oldham Central Facebook page posted details of the incident.

They said four teenagers - aged 17, 16, and two aged 15 - were arrested.

The post read: "At approximately 11.30pm on Thursday, May 18, a particularly nasty assault occurred on a 48-year-old homeless man on Market Place in Oldham town centre.

"The victim was in a shop doorway and approached by four male youths. Following a conversation, the four males attacked the victim by kicking and punching him in a totally unprovoked attack.

"The victim suffered a broken elbow, a broken nose and a cut to his face as a result of the attack. The victim needed hospital attention.

"The attack was captured on town centre CCTV.

"Four youths have been arrested and are currently under investigation.

" One is aged 17, one aged 16 years and two aged 15 years."

They were subsequently bailed pending further enquiries.

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service added: "We were called by colleagues from Greater Manchester Police to Market Place in Oldham at 11.49pm on May 18.

"A man had been assaulted and he was taken to Royal Oldham Hospital with facial injuries."